My Problem

March 10, 2017 at 1:49 AM ,

“….And Mordechai told him all that had befallen him…” – Esther 4:7

וַיַּגֶּד לוֹ מָרְדֳּכַי אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר קָרָהוּ – אסתר ד, ז

Mordechai occupied an important position in the kingdom long before the Purim miracle, as is indicated by the repeated expression in the Megilah, “Mordechai was sitting at the king’s gate” (2:19, 2:21 et al). If the evil decree would have actually come to pass he could presumably have used his position, coupled with the fact that his niece was the queen, to save himself from being killed. Nevertheless, the Megilah speaks of Mordechai relating the decree that “had befallen him”, not them – the rest of the Jewish nation. Mordechai’s call to action which ultimately saved the Jewish people was motivated by his sentiment that when harm befalls another Jew, it is as though he too has been harmed.

My Problem

We, too, must take a lesson from Mordechai’s behavior and attitude. It goes without saying that when we meet someone in need we must endeavor to help them. The Megilah is teaching, however, that our attitude must be not a sense of providing for someone else, but as though we are alleviating the suffering that has befallen us. And obviously, with the attitude that we ourselves are the recipients, the favor or kindness is done happily and eagerly.

 

 

 

 

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