Rav Shlomah Alkabetz (author of the Lecha Dodi) wrote a sefer on Megillas Esther, called Manos HaLevi. (In fact, Rav Shlomah Alkabetz distributed the Manos HaLevi to his friends together with his mishloa’ch manos.) In the Manos HaLevi, Rav Alkabetz asks why the aforementioned pasuk is the last pasuk in the Megillah. After ten Perokim of the Megillah why is this pasuk the fitting conclusion of the whole story of the Megillah?
He also asks what the expression: כי מרדכי היהודי, is coming to do. Under normal circumstances, “ki” means “because,” which implies that what follows is the answer to a question. The Manos HaLevi wants to know what question is being answered. He explains that this pasuk is indeed the “answer” to the entire Megillah that was just read. What is the question that this is coming to answer?
There is a big question that we can ask about the story of the Megillah. If we would have been in Shushan at the time of the story, I really doubt whether we would have listened to what Mordechai had to say. If we analyze the story, the person who seemingly caused all the problems that threatened the Jewish community was none other than Mordechai himself!
Picture it in our day and time. There is this powerful man, Haman, who wants everyone to bow down to him or else ..., but the gadol ha’dor insists, “I am not going to bow down to him.”
As a result of the refusal of this one person to bow down, the whole decree of Achashveirosh to exterminate the Jewish community, from young to old, was triggered. In fact, Chazal say that the Jews of the time criticized Mordechai, telling him, “You are sending us before the sword of the wicked Haman because of this unbending, obstinate, irrational, fanatic behavior of yours. You are going to get us all killed.” That is, in fact, what almost happened.
So, when Mordechai later comes and rallies the people to be strong in the face of the decree, why do they listen to him? Did he not lose all credibility as a trusted leader? Would the people not be inclined to tell him, “We told you so! It is your fault that we find ourselves in this predicament in the first place!” Would we not expect the masses to send him off to some corner of the country, and leave them alone to somehow try to dig themselves out of the mess he created? Why did they listen to him? Would we listen to such a person nowadays, under similar circumstances?
The answer is introduced with one word – the word that introduces the last pasuk of the Megillah: “Ki...” (Because...)
This can be explained by an insight of the Ponevezher Rav in Parshas Vayeitzei. When Yaakov came to the well at that fateful meeting with Rochel, the pasuk says, “The shepherds came to the well and rolled the stone off the opening of the well...”. Yaakov confronted them and asked them, “My brothers, what are you doing over here? It is not the time of day when you should be bringing in the flocks. Why are you quitting work in the middle of the day?” (Bereishis 29:2-7)
The next time you drive by a construction site and you see a whole bunch of workers looking at the hole in the ground, doing nothing, smoking and schmoozing, try pulling over your car and rolling down the window and saying to them, “Hey guys, listen, you are on tax payers’ money. You should be working now. What are you doing over here?” You had better not stick around for the answer.
And yet, Yaakov Avinu gives these herdsmen mussar, and they respond politely to him. They explain their circumstances to him. What is the explanation? The Ponevezher Rav explains, it is because Yaakov used one word “achai” [my brothers]. This word was not rhetoric. It was not just a figure of speech. They sensed Yaakov Avinu’s concern for them. He is a stranger giving them mussar, but they felt this kinship and closeness to him, such that they were willing to accept his chastisement.
That was Mordechai’s secret as well. He stood on his feet in the midst of the community and said, “My dear brethren, all the gates are closed, except the Gate of Tears. Look at the people of Ninveh. Let us take them as our example, and let us fast and do teshuvah.” Mordechai rallied them, but he rallied them with words of endearment, calling them “My brethren,” and showing his concern for them.
Perhaps the people felt that Mordechai made a mistake originally. Maybe they did not understand what he did or why he did it, but they knew that it must have been for their benefit. When you have a sense of closeness with someone, when you feel that he loves you and is interested in your welfare, then you can give him mussar.
This is what the climax of the Megillah is teaching. Do you want to understand the whole story here? How could it be if they believed that Mordechai got them into the trouble they were facing, they still listened to him? The answer is:כי מרדכי היהודי משנה למלך אחשורוש וגדול ליהודים ורצוי לרוב אחיו דרש טוב לעמו ודבר שלום לכל זרעו – “BECAUSE Mordechai HaYehudi, the viceroy to King Achashveirosh, and the leader of the Jewish people, was beloved by all; he sought the welfare of his nation and spoke peace to all his descendants.” Because he was beloved by all, and they knew that he was always seeking their welfare — that is why they listened to him, despite his having potentially been the source of their problem. When such a relationship exists, then he is given lots of leeway.
That is what the last pasuk of the Megillah is coming to explain. (R’ Frand)
