At the end of the daily Morning Prayer services, appears the supplemental section of “The Six Remembrances”. Our sages taught that it is desirable to recount six specific events in our nation’s history (on a daily basis) in order to bear in mind the important themes that are included in them. “The Six Remembrances” are: (1) The Exodus from Egypt, (2) Receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai, (3) Amalek’s Attack, (4) The Sin of the Golden Calf, (5) Miriam’s Sin, and (6) The Sabbath.
“The Exodus” and “Sinai” are definitely important to remember for they signify the birth of our nation. “Sabbath” is likewise significant for it attests to God’s creation of the universe. “The Golden Calf” was an event that changed our relationship with God forever, and our sages relate that we are still being punished for it until this very day. “Amalek’s Attack” is also crucial to remember for in its recitation we are commanded to “erase the memory of Amalek from beneath the heavens”. Amalek is not only a nation, but an ideology, that completely goes against every aspect of Jewish faith. All these events seem to have been extremely momentous in our nation’s history. The remaining event, “Miriam’s sin”, however doesn’t really seem to stand out as much. Miriam’s sin entailed speaking slander against her brother, Moshe, and God punished her with leprosy. What is so special about this event that it merits to be included in “The Six Remembrances”!?
