(ג) תִּזְכֹּר֔ אֶת־י֤וֹם צֵֽאתְךָ֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֥י חַיֶּֽיךָ׃
(3) Remember the day of your going out from the land of Egypt all the days of your life.
1} Why do you think we start with this memory?
2} Interestingly, the verse discusses remembering a single day of leaving Egypt even though the Torah describes a process that took many months. How do you understand the unique language of this verse?
(ט) רַ֡ק הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֩ וּשְׁמֹ֨ר נַפְשְׁךָ֜ מְאֹ֗ד פֶּן־תִּשְׁכַּ֨ח אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֜ים אֲשֶׁר־רָא֣וּ עֵינֶ֗יךָ וּפֶן־יָס֙וּרוּ֙ מִלְּבָ֣בְךָ֔ כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֣י חַיֶּ֑יךָ וְהוֹדַעְתָּ֥ם לְבָנֶ֖יךָ וְלִבְנֵ֥י בָנֶֽיךָ׃ (י) י֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָמַ֜דְתָּ לִפְנֵ֨י ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ֮ בְּחֹרֵב֒ בֶּאֱמֹ֨ר ה' אֵלַ֗י הַקְהֶל־לִי֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם וְאַשְׁמִעֵ֖ם אֶת־דְּבָרָ֑י אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִלְמְד֜וּן לְיִרְאָ֣ה אֹתִ֗י כָּל־הַיָּמִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵ֤ם חַיִּים֙ עַל־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה וְאֶת־בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם יְלַמֵּדֽוּן׃
(9) Take care, take exceeding care of yourself, lest you forget the things that your eyes saw, lest you turn aside in your heart all the days of your life; make them known to your children and to your children's children: (10) The day that you stood before the presence of יי your God at Horev, when יי said to me: Gather the people to Me, that I may have them hear my words, that they may learn to hold Me in awe all the days that they are alive on the soil--they are to teach them to their children!
1} The next memory we are taught to focus on is Standing at Sinai. What connection do you make between the first two memories?
2} Personally, do you find this memory challenging? Why or why not?
(17) Remember what Amalek did to you on the way, at your going-out from Egypt, (18) how he encountered you on the way and attacked you from behind--all the beaten-down-ones at your rear--while you were weary and faint, and he did not stand in awe of God. (19) So it shall be: when יי your God gives you rest from all your enemies in the land יי your God is giving you as an inheritance, to possess it, you are to blot out the name of Amalek from under the heavens; do not forget!
1} As we continue through our set of 6 memories, this is our first encounter with remembering the relationship between two different nations/people. What would you hope such a memory is evocative of? How does this one compare?
2} The mitzvah is to remember to blot out the memory of Amalek. What does Amalek stand for, based solely upon what you read in Source #3? How does one blot out a memory? Especially when we are commanded to remember to do it? What do you think is the intent here?
3} The Chassidic literature talks about an inner-Amalek. What might that mean? How do you relate to this idea?
(7) Remember, do not forget how you infuriated יי your God in the wilderness; from the day that God took you out of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against יי!
1} At first blush, this memory probably would not have made my top 6 list. When do you think it is important to remember our failures?
2} The placement of this memory immediately after the memory of Amalek it important. Why do you think the rabbis placed this memory where it is?
(9) Remember what יי your God did to Miriam on your journey as you were leaving Egypt.
1} On the journey out of Egypt and marching to the Promised Land, Miriam was struck with a skin disease called tzara'at. The rabbis understood it as a punishment for gossiping. What do you think the mitzvah of caring for our words is so important to the rabbis that it made the top 6 list?
2} Miriam was an important leader of the Israelites. The rabbis teach that it was due to her efficacy as a spiritual and political leader that they were sustained with water along the lengthy journey. Why do you think the rabbis find it so important for us to remember her punishment and not her leadership?
(8) Remember Shabbat, to sanctify it.
1} Shabbat is the only ritual mitzvah on our list of memories. Why do you think the rabbis selected it? What is unique about Shabbat?
2} Shabbat is the final of the 6 memories. Why did the rabbis end on Shabbat?