“Atslan” (“Sloth”)
עצלן
Gematria = 240
= Gematria of “Safek” (“Doubt”)
ספק
= Amalek
עמלק
It is said that Amalek, the worst enemy of Israel, is like a person who jumps into boiling water to cool the faith of the Children of Israel in God (cf. Midrash Tanhuma, Ki Tetsei 9).
Sloths, indeed, are excellent swimmers. They are also the mammals with the lowest internal body temperature, which varies significantly, fluctuating between 23 and 33°C. Their thermal regulation is notably poor.
Another distinctive characteristic of the Sloth is that it only descends to the ground once a week to defecate, with waste that can make up to a third of its body weight.
Amalek, the “Sloth” hanging upside down from the Tree of Life, represents the opposing force that seeks to ensnare us with its claws by making us doubt, by holding us back from action.
“And he said, ‘Because his hand is against the throne of the Eternal, the Lord will wage war against Amalek from generation to generation!’” (Exodus 17:16)
וַיֹּאמֶר כִּי יָד עַל כֵּס יָהּ מִלְחָמָה לַיהוָה בַּעֲמָלֵק מִדֹּר דֹּר
“Dor” means “Generation” in Hebrew and is pronounced like “Dors” in French, meaning “Sleep”.
“MiDor Dor” (“From generation to generation”)
מדר דר
Sleep… sleep…
…Wake up, sloth!