This week’s Torah portion tells the dramatic story of the Egyptians chasing the escaping children of Israel to the edge of the Reed Sea, where God causes an east wind to blow, the waters to move aside, and the people are able to cross on dry land. The water then crashes down on the Egyptians and drowns them.

It is a thrilling, dramatic scene, followed by Moses singing a triumphant song of praise to God, their rescuer.

Soon thereafter, the people are attacked by Amalek. A battle ensues, and the Children of Israel prevail.

There are two things that stand out about this brief war. First, it seems that God didn’t think the Israelites were ready to handle battle. The first verse of the Torah portion relates that God purposefully led them away from the land of the Philistines for just that reason.

And when Amalek does attack, God is nowhere to be found. But there is no outcry for help, no complaints against God or Moses. Instead, the people handle the situation themselves.

Joshua leads the troops, and Aaron and Hur assist Moses in overseeing the battle. Moses declares that he will hold up his rod to encourage the warriors. When his arm becomes too tired and he can no longer hold up the staff, Aaron and Hur sit him on a stone and, standing on either side of their leader, hold his arms high.

Why doesn’t God help, or at least give moral support? God doesn’t even advise Moses. Moses devises the entire response himself, with no input from the Divine.

I think that this early act of self-reliance is a significant step in the evolution of the Children of Israel from a slave mentality to independence. They will have many lapses over the next 40 years in the desert. But this small event teaches them a lesson that the Jewish people will remember for thousands of years.

It is neither an easy nor a comfortable lesson. But we have learned that the best we can do is rely upon ourselves. We cannot wait for God or anyone else to rescue us. We have continued to be persecuted, time, and again, Amalek has attacked us, time and again.

It has been said that Amalek is considered such an awful enemy because they did not attack the main body of the children of Israel in the desert, but rather struck from the rear, where stragglers, the weak, and the defenseless were to be found. This is as true today as it was then. Those who hate the Jews have no compassion and instead are ruthless in attacking the least among us.

After the battle is won, God tells Moses, “Write this for a memorial in a book, and recite it in the ears of Joshua; for I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” (Exodus 17:14)

Thus far, Amalek has not been forgotten. Just as “a new Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph” at the beginning of Exodus, leading to the people’s enslavement, so too new versions of Amalek have continued to arise.

We have learned, time and again, that although we may have allies, ultimately we are responsible for our own survival. Self reliance and community are our strengths.

It is a hard lesson and I wish it was not so. I’m not sure I would have written this before October 7, 2023, nor would I have felt as I do now. The most recent attack by Amalek — this time using the name Hamas — has changed me. The world’s response has been cold, and the lack of human concern for the Jewish people has cut us to the core.

If we are to survive, and I believe we will, we will do so because we are an ancient people who have persisted through the millennia because of our determination to pursue our mission of repairing the world, for ourselves and for all of humanity.