Zachor: Rekanati as explained by Levush Malchut

The 3rd of Adar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Mordechai Yaffe, author of Levush Mordechai, and known as the Baal HaLevushim (1530-1612). Born to the Rav of Prague, he was sent to Poland to study under the Maharshal and Rama in his youth. Married in 1553, he founded a yeshiva in Prague.

However, in 1559, King Ferdinand decreed that the Jews of Prague be evicted. Despite the successful efforts of Pope Pius IV on behalf of the Jews (which resulted in a 2-year delay), the Jews of Prague left the city in 1561. Rav Mordechai settled in Venice, where he learned with Rav Avraham Abuhav and Rav Mittsyahu Delcorte.

He became Rav of Horodna (Grodno) in 1572, then Lublin in 1588. In 1598, when the Maharal left Posen for Prague, Rav Mordechai became rabbi of Posen until his death. Two important peirushim on the Levush were written many years later: In Elya Rabba, Rav Eliyahu Shapiro answers many refutation of the Levush brought in the Malbishei Yom Tov, (written by the author of Tosefos Yom Tov), and in Levushei Tzedakah, Rav Tzadok Hakohen answers difficulties raised by the Smah in Levush Choshen Mishpat. [Adar II]

“God said to Moshe, ‘Write this as a remembrance in the Book and recite it in the ears of Yehoshua, that I shall surely erase the memory of Amalek from under the heavens (Exodus 17:14).” In order to understand the idea of “Remembrance,” we must look to, “In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, there shall be a rest day for you, a remembrance with Shofar blasts (Vayikra 23:24).”  The “Book,” shares the same secret as the “Book of Life” that is opened on Rosh Hashana.

The Remembrance is of all actions, including sins, that are permanently inscribed. This is in direct contradiction to Amalek that believes that there are no permanent effects to our actions, and that the Infinite God could not possibly care about the actions of finite human beings.