After the demise of Haman, the Megillah states: ומרדכי יצא מלפני המלך ... והעיר שושן צהלה ושמחה - “And Mordechai went out from the king’s presence ... and the city of Shushan was cheerful and happy” (Esther 8:15)
This pasuk clearly demonstrates that Mordechai’s success brought happiness to the entire city and not only to the Jews who were but a small percentage of the city’s population. The happiness that was specific to the Jews is expressed in the next pasuk, when the Megillah says: ליהודים היתה אורה ושמחה וששון ויקר – “The Jews had light, happiness, joy and honour” (8:16).
The Kedushas HaLevi (Derush L’Purim) explains that a tzaddik’s mitzvos and service of Hashem bring happiness to even the simplest people. In addition, it says in Mishlei: ברבות צדיקים ישמח העם – “When the righteous are increased, the people will rejoice” (Mishlei 29:2). Rashi there says that this rejoicing occurs when tzadikkim are in positions of authority, as was Mordechai in Achashveirosh’s kingdom. As such, Mordechai the Tzaddik’s ascension to power caused the city of Shushan to stir with happiness after the Purim miracle, even though the people did not know the reason for their own happiness.
It is worth noting, however, that although as a tzaddik, Mordechai was able to bring joy to the general population, the Jews had an even greater simcha, because the Megillah says: ליהודים היתה אורה – “the Jews had light”, meaning they were enlightened with the reason for their simcha, namely their own salvation. Since a person’s measure for happiness is greater when he knows the reason for his happiness, the Jews did not just have simcha; they also had, אורה ושמחה וששון ויקר – “light, joy, gladness, and honour.” They had simcha in all its manifestations.
