Ki Seitzei 25:19 · unit 3

TT sequence · Parashas Ki Seitzei · Seventh Aliyah · Passuk 25:19

The Complete Passuk

תִּמְחֶה֙ אֶת־זֵ֣כֶר עֲמָלֵ֔ק מִתַּ֖חַת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם לֹ֖א תִּשְׁכָּֽח׃

\ldots you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under the heavens; you shall not forget.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah and classical sources: the scope of “memory / remembrance” (even inanimate objects).

Primary locus: Bava Batra 21b / midrashic tradition cited in poskim (and the TT note on “timcheh”).

Sefaria — Bava Batra 21b

Core Text of Chazal

תִּמְחֶה אֶת זֵכֶר עֲמָלֵק – אֲפִלּוּ מִן הָעֵצִים וְהָאֲבָנִים.

English: “You shall blot out the memory of Amalek” — even from the trees and the stones.

On the daf / in context: The midrashic reading (preserved in the poskim and referenced by the Torah Temimah) extends the obligation beyond living beings so that no remnant remains of which one could say “this belonged to Amalek.” Parallel material in Bava Batra discusses the precise vocalization of “zeikher / zekher” and the consequences of misreading it.

Type of Learning

Derash expanding the scope of “memory” (midrash / poskim) — the blotting out reaches even inanimate objects that might preserve the name of Amalek.

What Is Learned

The commandment requires the complete erasure of Amalek’s memory, including any association that could be made through trees, stones, or other objects, so that nothing remains of which one could say “this was Amalek’s.”