<HTML>
As Prof. Sokolow pointed out, Rav Soloveitchik's definition of
Amalek as any individual or nation who sets out to destroy the Jewish
people provides an alternative to a contemporarily problematic racial
interpretation of the commandment. However, it also opens up the term to
possibilities that may be equally dangerous, if not worse.
See the article by Elimelekh (Elliott) Horowitz on the history of the
Jewish understanding of "Amalek" in the most recent edition of ZION.
Towards the end, he cites Rav Soloveitchik's understanding. In addition,
he points to other Lithuanian rabbinic figures who suggested that in the
contemporary world, Jewish born "porkei ol" as well as Jewish communists
should be identified as Amalek. Would we want our students to entertain
such thoughts?
Adam Ferziger
Dept. of Jewish History
Bar-Ilan University</HTML>
