Religious Freedom

Darash Moshe (Devarim 25:17 Vol. I, pp. 415-6)  Remember what Amalek did to you .. Don’t forget It is difficult to understand what is the need for us to remember the deeds of Amalek in our mouth and heart (Megila 18a) or what we are to do?  However the verse (Shemos 27:20) “You are commanded to bring clear oil of beaten olives for lighting and not the dregs , for kindling lamps regularly” answers this. The Torah is revealing to us something very important. The fact is that every superstition and nonsensical belief in the world claims to bring light to the world and creates beautiful things to deceive and capture souls. And nonetheless because many do not accept them, they compel anyone they can, with sword and spear, to adopt their faith and creed as is well known from history. This is true in all times, with respect to both matters of faith and matters of ideology, past and present, and especially in Russia and Germany Thus force is the dregs of their illumination. Ultimately, all that is left is wickedness, not the ideology. So what need do they have for the ideology once they have swords and spears?  In the end, only the sword and spear remain, while the light is completely extinguished, as we saw especially in places such as Germany and Russia. Because the coercion is mixed with ideology  some might mistakenly think that coercion is itself illuminating and that there is no need for ideology. as we saw in Germany and Russia. Therefore,no government should accept one single faith or one single ideology, because ultimately only the power will remain, without an ideology, and this leads to destruction, as we see with our very eyes …You might mistakenly think that this advice applies also to Torah since our nation is to be directed solely by Torah.  That is hinted at by the verse in Shemos that illumination is to be only from pure oil and not the dregs which symbolize coercion. It is only as a wise and understanding nation that we influence the world as we saw in the times of Dovid and Shlomo when many goyim converted solely from the love of G-d and Torah because it is forbidden to convert through force. Also in regard to Amalek, he attacked regarding a certain ideology that he wanted to demonstrate according to his faulty understanding which was not based on miracles and presented nothing to be afraid of. Thus he should have simply explained his views which could be accepted or rejected on its merits. However he didn’t attempt to show the light and good points of his ideology but immediately attempted coercion which is the dregs of any ideology.  Thus we are enjoined that we need to remember with our mouth and hearts that all religion and ideology that is forced solely by the government or by any coercion is inadequate to illuminate our lives and is nonsensense and false and misleads mankind and lacks true illumination. This is the lesson from remembering Amalek. The lesson is that no government should adopt a particular ideology or religion. It should focus on its basic purpose which is  to make a just society and protect the wellbeing of everyone and safeguard them from all harm as it states in Avos – that if it weren’t for the fear of the government, people would destroy each other. However in regards to religion and ideology,  each person should be free to do what he wants. In fact America established legally over 150 years ago that the country can not adopt a particular religion or ideology but all citizens are free to choose what they want and the government is concerned only with the welfare of each person and the well being of society and they do according what G-d wants. As a result America has prospered and been successful. We are obligated to pray to G-d for continued success and that soon Yehuda and Israel should be saved.