The Medrash teaches that Perek [Chapter] 30 of Tehillim (which is recited daily) “Mizmor Shir Chanukas Habayis” was composed by Mordechai HaTzaddik, his students, Haman HaRasha, Esther HaMalkah, Knesses Yisroel, and Ruach HaKodesh. (Each one said one or two pasukim.)
The Medrash says: “When Haman came to Mordechai he said, ‘Get up and get dressed! How bad is my mazul! Yesterday, I prepared the gallows, and HaKodosh Boruch Hu prepared a crown for you. I was preparing rope and nails [to hang you], and HaKodosh Boruch Hu was preparing the king’s clothing for you. I wanted to tell the king to hang you on the gallows, and he told me to lead you on his horse.’ Haman dressed him... When Mordechai was riding, he praised HaKodosh Boruch Hu. ‘I exalt you Hashem, because You raised me, and you didn’t allow my enemies to rejoice ... I shouted to you, and you healed me ...’”.
The Medrash also cites the words that Haman said: “That rosha [Haman]; what did he say [as he led Mordechai through the streets]? He said, “When things were tranquil, I said that I would never fall. [But now I realize] that it was Your will that made me mighty. You concealed Your face, and I was frightened.’”
It was an unusual moment of truth, when Haman said these few wonderful words to Hashem. He recognized that his might, wealth, and fame were given to him from Hashem, and Hashem could easily take them away from him. His righteousness lasted a brief moment. Immediately afterwards, Haman reverted to being the rosha he always was, but for one moment he was righteous. What was his reward?
The Gemara tells us that one of Haman’s descendants taught Torah to his students in Bnei Brak, according to the girsa [textual version] of the Ein Yaakov in Sanhedrin (96b) it was Rav Yehuda brei d’Rav Shilas. How did Haman merit this? The Shem MiShmuel said that he merited it because of the righteous words that he said while leading Mordechai through the streets of Shushan. Even Haman’s good deed didn’t go to waste. All virtuous deeds, from each and every person, are rewarded.
The Lesson for All People
The Shem MiShmuel concludes: “This is a lesson for all people, even those who are on terribly low levels – may Hashem save us. They shouldn’t consider it to be insignificant every [good] word they say, and even every good thought they have. Even when one doesn’t have the strength to continue on this good path, nevertheless, it will be extremely beneficial for him, to the extent that no mouth can say it, and no heart can comprehend just how far these matters go.”
We learn from this the extraordinary reward that awaits us. If Haman was rewarded with a descendent, who taught Torah, because of the two pasukim he said, how much reward we should expect for the many virtuous deeds we do!
