Rabbi Daniel Siegel

Memes and Genes

This Shabbat is called Shabbat Zakhor/The Shabbat of Remembrance, for we read the Torah portion stating “Zakor/Remember what Amalek did to you”. As this is the Shabbat before Purim, and Haman is said to be the descendant of Amalek, we remind ourselves of our eternal foe-Amalek and all its descendants. There is a suggestion here of bad blood, an inimicality that borders on genetics-Amalek and Israel can never reconcile.

At the same time, Judaism recognises memes are “cultural analogues” to genes. Beliefs, practices and ideas are culturally transmitted even as genes are, but at a faster rate and, at times, in a more compelling manner. Mimetic evolution, our tradition teaches, is the hopeful antidote to genetic/blood-based hostilities. This is expressed in the rabbinic observation that “the descendants of Haman (the Amalekite) studied Torah with the Jews of Bnai Brak”.

We might read this as saying that in the end “we” win out anyway, our greatest enemies themselves become Jews. Or, this may suggest that we do not believe in inherited guilt/enmity, and the memory and memes of all cultures can evolve and make way for the “other” through acceptance and understanding.

It is said that that before Daniel Pearl was killed by terrorists, his final words, after “I am a Jew” was “Back in the town of Bnei Brak, there is a street named after my great-grandfather, Chayim Pearl, who was one of the founders of the town”.

Perhaps he too was saying to his soon to be killers, hopefully you do not win here and your grandchildren will come to study with our children (and our peoples live together in peace).

Memes and genes, may our memory be for good (Zakhur LaTov)