"Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt." This is a quote attributed to Shakespeare; however, the Torah said this approximately 3000 before him.
 
 The Jewish people had just recently left Egypt, been miraculously taken out of slavery, crossed the Red Sea on dry land, received Manna from Heaven every day, and everyone feared them. Out of the blue came Amalek and waged a war against the Jews. Eventually, Amalek was defeated.

 Throughout history the Jews have had many wars. However, there is something unique about the war with Amalek, for G-d gave the command to remember this war (in this week's Parsha), and it is written in most prayer books as one of six remembrances we say every day at the end of the Morning Prayer. Why this war more than others?

 One explanation is given by the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Chassidic movement:

 In Hebrew, every letter has a numerical value. Alef is equal to 1, Bet is equal to 2, etc. Letters in a word are added to get a sum total which can then be related to other words and concepts with the same number. The numerical equivalent of the word "Amalek" is "Safek"-which means "doubt."

 When the Jews were at the height of their journey, leading from slavery in Egypt to autonomy in Israel, Amalek tried to halt the process and put an obstacle in a place where there had been none before.

 Similarly, in our own lives, when we embark on a project or begin something new, just when we are at the pinnacle of enthusiasm and all seems set to go, some doubts creep in and try to throw us off track. When we are overcome by doubt, unsure of whether to proceed or not, we must remember that this uncertainty is trying to prevent us from doing our best. Like Amalek, who was defeated, and the Jews continued onto Israel, we should crush those doubts and trust in G-d's help that we will be successful. 

Shabbat Shalom!