The Purim story is a collection of unlikely events and almost irrational decisions by all parties involved in this drama. There is ample evidence of the mercurial instability of Achashveirosh and of the diabolical wickedness of Haman. What is however the most perplexing, of all of the behavior of the major participants in the story, is that of Mordechai. What impels him to publicly disobey Haman’s orders and provoke and insult him? And did he have halachic and moral justification to so endanger the Jewish community by his behavior?
There is an opinion in the Talmud that showing homage to
Haman was not necessarily forbidden by Jewish law. And Mordechai had other
practical options such as hiding and not appearing publicly when Haman
appeared. Yet Mordechai emerges in Jewish history and tradition as a hero
and an exemplary role model for his courageous defiance of Haman. He is viewed
as being the one whose behavior saved the Jewish people and not as one whose
behavior was an endangerment.
Perhaps the main, practical reason for this is that ultimate
success and triumph are sufficient to erase all doubts as to the wisdom of past
decisions and conduct. Mordechai’s persistence, fortitude and stubbornness
eventually topple Haman (he actually hangs him) and destroy him. Mordechai’s
actions strengthen and enhance the status and position of the Jewish people as
a minority in the polyglot Persian Empire.
Success always brings its own rewards. Heaven has a vote in
all human activities, even if unseen and unrecognized. And there is no doubt
that Heaven, so to speak, sided with Mordechai in his public stance against
Haman and the idolatry and tyranny that he represented. That is the only
possible explanation for the otherwise unbelievable series of events that make
up the Purim story.
The traditional view of Purim is that it was a miraculous
event, even though the miracles were hidden, incremental and cumulative and not
of the purely supernatural kind, as were those of the Exodus from Egypt. And Mordechai’s
conduct is part of this hidden miraculous story. Heaven apparently responds
favorably to sincere acts of courage and loyalty. And those were the qualities
that Mordechai exhibited throughout the Purim story.
Mordechai’s actions were perhaps inscrutable and not understandable to the average onlooker. But so was, and apparently is, Heaven’s reaction.
There is an interesting and highly volatile concept in
Jewish tradition that countenances behavior which somehow contradicts accepted
halachic practice. Based upon the verse that appears in Psalms:
“It is a time to take action for
the sake of God; they have violated Your Torah.”
The Talmud allowed for a reinterpretation of the verse to
state:
“When it is time to act for the
sake of God and save the Torah and Israel then in such extreme circumstances,
the Torah itself can apparently be violated.”
This rare exception to traditional norms was invoked by
Mattityahu in rebelling against the Syrian Greek oppressors and their Jewish
Hellenist allies. Based on this principle, the great Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi
allowed the Oral Law to be written down and disseminated as a book, though the
Torah itself counseled that the Oral Law should forever remain in its oral
state.
However, this concept is very dangerous in its application,
as Jewish history has shown us. Those who consistently violate or ignore
halacha and tradition doom themselves to eventual assimilation and extinction.
In all instances in Jewish history there have been very few times when this
principle has actually been used.
Only rare and holy people have successfully behaved in such
circumstances and I believe that Mordechai must be counted in that group.
Mordechai saw that it was a time to do something for God, to save the
Jewish people and to alter the course of history. As pointed out above, Heaven
agreed with his decision and hence our joy in commemorating the Purim
holiday.
Purim same’ach, Rabbi Berel Wein
