Parshas Zachor

The Thermostat and Amalek: A Lesson in Human Nature

We all know the unspoken rule of every household: if you value your life—even just a little—you do not adjust the thermostat when your father is around. Fathers for generations have guarded that thermostat like it holds the nuclear codes.

But in a way, what Amalek did to the Jewish Nation was exactly that—they adjusted the heat. The Midrash compares Amalek’s attack to a scalding hot bath that no one wanted to go near. And then Amalek jumped in. Yes, they got burned, but in doing so, they cooled the bath just enough to make other nations more willing to fight.

Now, this doesn’t seem to make sense. If Amalek fought us and lost, that should have discouraged other nations from trying. Why would it make them more willing to fight? The answer reveals something profound about human nature.

When you see something happen—even if you know it’s wrong, even if you know it has terrible consequences—it starts to feel normal. Just witnessing it shifts your perspective, whether you realize it or not. Amalek’s attack normalized the idea that the Jewish Nation could be attacked. And that shift in perception made all the difference.

The same is true in our own lives. When you read, hear, or watch something that goes against your morals and values, you might tell yourself, It’s okay. I don’t agree with it. I’m just observing. But that’s a mistake. Just by seeing it, you begin to accept it. You don’t realize that you’re stepping into that scalding bath—and before you know it, you might find yourself in hot water.

So be mindful of what you allow into your life. Because sometimes, just witnessing something is enough to turn the temperature down—and change the way we see the world.