With Purim approaching, I would like to share a thought that has been weighing on me, and perhaps it will resonate with others as well.
When we learn the Megillah, it is easy to read the story of Mordechai and view his actions as obvious, even expected. Of course Mordechai refused to participate in the festivities of Achashverosh. Of course he stood firm. Of course he didn’t bend.
But if we try to place ourselves back in that moment, I am not so sure it was so simple.
Imagine the conversation at the time.
“Mordechai, how can you not attend? Achashverosh’s government supports the Jewish community. He allows us to live peacefully. Perhaps he even helped fund our mosdos. The food is kosher! What exactly is the problem? Why make a scene? Why risk everything?”
After all, Chazal tell us that the food at Achashverosh’s party was indeed kosher. On paper, there may have been many justifications to attend. It would have been easy to rationalize participation, to explain it away, to say, “We can be there without being influenced.”
And yet Mordechai refused.
He understood that something deeper was at stake. It wasn’t just about the technical halachos of the food. It was about values, about identity, about the message being sent by participating in a culture that was fundamentally at odds with Torah.
Mordechai saw what others either could not see, or chose not to see.
And perhaps many criticized him. Perhaps they said he was being extreme. Perhaps they argued that he was endangering the community by taking such a hard stance.
But history showed that Mordechai was right.
Which brings me to a question for our generation.
We live in a time of tremendous bracha, where many in our community have achieved significant success and influence. With that success often comes a certain culture — one that sometimes celebrates excess, ostentation, and values that are not aligned with Torah.
There are events, environments, and social norms that, while they may be technically permissible in certain respects, still feel worlds apart from the spirit of Torah.
And again, the justifications are familiar.
“These people support Torah institutions.”
“They give tzedakah.”
“They help our mosdos survive.”
“Why make waves? Why alienate them?”
But I wonder: where is the Mordechai of our time?
Who will be willing to stand up and say that not everything that is technically permissible aligns with Torah values? Who will have the courage to draw a line, even when it is uncomfortable, even when there may be real consequences?
Who will be willing to forgo honor, opportunity, and support in order to stand for what is right?
Purim reminds us that salvation can come from unexpected places, but it also reminds us that it begins with individuals who are willing to stand alone when necessary.
Perhaps the question is not only who will be the Mordechai — but whether we are prepared, in our own way, to follow his example.
A Freilichen Purim to all.
Marty Stein
Balmtimore, MD
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17 Responses
Mordichia was one of the only ones who didn’t majority of people did so…..ye you prob would have
Sounds like the comment section. I talk about conformity and the rot that’s rotting our bones and everyone throws stones. Sad. We are in those times. Might just take a lot more to wake people up.
The way people treat and speak about rabbanim today there isn’t a doubt in my mind that almost nobody would listen to him today. Not just that he would be made fun of and cursed to the Moon, we see it with our current gedolim everyday right here
Wait a minute! Mordechai did, in fact, incite Haman by refusing to honor him. Indeed, he was the direct cause of Haman’s fury against the entire Jewish Nation. Apparently, all the other Yidden did bestow honor to Haman, but Mordechai remained the exception. Maybe his derech of being a zealot is not the correct approach.
Marty is the English for Mordechai; we have found our Tzadik.
Indeed. There are things being done in our communities… in the name of Torah and chesed that are in direct contradiction to Sholom Bayis and Kedusha.
I’m not referring to tznius or Sheitels or Kashrus. I’m referring to people breaking up the marriages of their relatives… for selfish.
Parents destroying sholom bayis of their children.
Children disrespecting the sholom bayis of their parents in second marriages.
Sisters and brothers speaking poorly of their siblings’ spouses.
And they will convince you it’s a mitzvah.
If Mordechai were alive today he would be accused of being in denial by Frum therapists.
Balmtimore
Would Mordechai advocate religious Jews joining an army that has girls,gays and trans. You all know the answer. Certainly not.
A big piece of why we hide behind shtadlanim such as Agudas Yisroel etc. is to provide cover for the Rabbanim and allow them to give us Hadracha without their words being portrayed as “the official position of the Jewish community”.
By leaving room for apparent daylight between Daas Torah and Shtadlanus, you allow room for the Klal to discern between Mordechai and Haman. (Not Ch”V calling the Shtadlanim Haman)
As for whether you would listen to Mordechai, since you seem to be questioning the ways the Rabbanim handle things, I’ve got my thoughts.
you bring up a few good points;
for starters the timing of your letter coincides obviously with morroco. maybe mordechai was in morroco ? or whats obvious is that mordechai of our dor chose NOT to say anything. because if he did you would know about it. kol yomiy godaltee bein hachachomim… shtika… yafeh
the same way we cannot understand the whole morroco thing to me the bigger question is why would anybody become a shnorer yes a monthly nudge for millions to support yidden who u dont even know and many who view you as chometz be bal yeroeh at the adirei hatorah event
yes, Mordechai stood firm to the Yidden who supported mosdos but had bad attitudes! Oh, wait …
Does everyone listen to the Lubavitcher Rebbe?
Mordechai was a Navi. We dont have this anymore. That’s the Golus.
Rebbetzin when it says ish Yehudi it’s referring to Mordechai I think
When it says beruchim kol hatzaddikim after the Megillah I think it may include Mordechai
what Megillah do you have
I thought he was in the Sanhedrin I never heard that he was a prophet
We all know basic Hashkofa today. You can tune into thousands of recordings. Listen to people like Rabbi Avigdor Miler and you can figure out what you can support or not support.
Mordechai was a Persian Chacham. Which Litvak today would listen to a Persian Chacham?