This Shabbat we will read the special reading of "Zachor" the story of how the wicked Amalekites attacked the Jewish Nation without any fear of G-d. There are a number of mitzvoth in regard to this. There is a positive commandment to remember what Amalek did. There is another commandment to physically destroy Amalek, and a negative commandment not to forget what Amalek did to us. 

Amalek was/is the epitome of evil in the world, the physical representation of all the wickedness. In this sense, Amalek is the root of all wickedness that exists. The name amalek has the same numerical value (in Hebrew) as the word "safek" which means "doubt". I think this gives us a better understanding how they are the root of all evil. The reason people sin is really because they "doubt" the existence of G-d, His Providence and the fact that He rewards and punishes man for his actions. If this reality was clear to us without any doubt, then there would be no room for any sin. Obviously it doesn't mean that everyone who sins doesn't believe in G-d or His Providence, but I think to a certain extent a person who sins even if he is overcome by his urges, it is still because there is a certain level of doubt in his mind. He doesn't have perfectly clear perception, if he did he wouldn't be able to sin. If you were standing on top of a large building and someone on the street below was handing out large sums of money as much as you might want and desire that money a normal person would not jump off the building to reach the bottom. If we had such clear perception that each time we are enticed to sin it is as if we are being enticed to jump off a building to retrieve a large sum of money, then we would never "jump". It is because of amalek's existence, the nation who attacked Bnei Yisroel that our perception is clouded

May we all merit to eradicate the internal and external amalek  speedily in our day!

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath