The Measure That Walks Through Every Generation

(Exodus 17:14-15) "And the LORD said to Moses: Write this as a memorial in the book." The first elders say: this measure travels across the face of all the generations - the whip with which Israel is lashed will in the end itself be lashed. Let every person learn proper conduct from Amalek, who came to harm Israel, and the Holy One, blessed be He, destroyed him from the life of this world and the world to come, as it is said, "For I will utterly blot out." So too Pharaoh, who came to harm Israel, the Holy One, blessed be He, drowned him in the Sea of Reeds, as it is said (Psalms 136:15), "And He shook off Pharaoh and his host." So too every nation and kingdom that comes to harm Israel - by that very judgment He judges them. Always they said: by the measure a person measures, it is measured out to him, as it is said, "For in the very matter in which they acted presumptuously against them" (Exodus 18:11). Esther sent to the sages: Write me into the book [as a permanent scripture]. They sent back to her (Proverbs 22:20), "Have I not written for you noble things [literally, threefold]" - and not a fourth time. Until they found a verse in the Torah: "Write this as a memorial in the book." "This" - what is written here; "a memorial" - what is written in the Prophets; "in the book" - what is written in the scroll [Esther]. These are the words of Rabbi Eleazar of Modi'in. Rabbi [Judah the Prince] says: "Write this" - what is written here; "a memorial" - what is written in Deuteronomy; "in the book" - what is written in the Prophets. If one recited it [the scroll of Esther] by heart, he has not fulfilled his obligation. This is derived by a verbal analogy of "remembering" with "remembering": it is written here, "These days are remembered" (Esther 9:28), and it is written there, "Write this as a memorial in the book" - just as there it means in the book, so here it means in the book. And from where do we know that this remembering is a reading aloud, and not merely silent study? Do not entertain such a thought, for it was taught: "Remember" - one might think in the heart; when Scripture says "Do not forget," forgetting of the heart is already addressed. So how do I uphold "Remember"? With the mouth.