Two Rememberings the Ashes of Abraham or the Clay of Egypt

Pesikta DeRav Kahana 3:2

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

Rabbi Tanhum bar Rabbi Hanilai opened: "Your memorials are like ashes, your defenses are defenses of clay" (Job 13:12). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel: My children, those two rememberings that I wrote down for you in the Torah, be careful with them — "You shall blot out the memory of Amalek" (Deuteronomy 25:19), "For I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek" (Exodus 17:14). "Like ashes" (mishlei efer, read as mishulei be-efer, "compared in ashes") — if you are worthy, behold you are the children of Abraham, who compared himself to ashes: "And I am but dust and ashes" (Genesis 18:27). And if not, "your defenses are defenses of clay" (Job 13:12) — prepare yourselves for the bondage of Egypt; for what is written of Egypt? "And they made their lives bitter with hard labor, with clay" (Exodus 1:14).

Themes

AmalekAbrahamHumility

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