ויעבר מרדכי ויעש בבל אשר צותה עליו אסתר
“Mordechai then left and did exactly as Esther had commanded him.” (Esther 4:17)
The choice of the wording in this pasuk is unusual and begs an obvious question: The word ויעבר literally means “crossed over.” What did Mordechai cross?
The Gemara in Megillah (15a) relates that Rav explains that the word ויעבר refers to the fact that by fasting, Mordechai violated the sanctity and the obligatory mitzvos of the first day of Pesach, of eating matzah and drinking wine. Rav maintains that ויעבר means Mordechai was עובר, he transgressed a mitzvah.
Shmuel presented an alternative approach: Mordechai crossed a river to fulfill Esther’s request of asking the Jews of Shushan to fast on her behalf.
With Rav’s approach, we can understand why the Megillah includes this information as desperate times call for desperate measures. Mordechai was so concerned about the fate of Klal Yisroel that he fasted, violating a mitzvah de’O’raisa by not eating matzah on the first day of Pesach.
However, if we are to understand the pasuk as Shmuel does, of what consequence is the fact that Mordechai had to cross a river?
Rashi is apparently disturbed by this question, and comments that Mordechai crossed the river to recruit the Jews who lived on the other side, so that they could daven as well.
Isn’t it obvious, though, that Mordechai would expend every possible effort to make the fast day known to the very last Jewish citizen? Why must we be told that he had to cross the river to do so?
Rav Shlomo Alkabetz in Manas HaLevi (4:17) suggests as follows: He explains that Mordechai HaTzaddik embarked on the performance of a mitzvah: He was on a mission to save Klal Yisroel. Every ounce of effort that a person puts in when performing a mitzvah is significant and is greatly cherished by the Ribbono Shel Olam. No matter how trivial it may seem, Hashem will not allow it to be forgotten. Therefore, the fact that on his way to help save Klal Yisroel Mordechai had to step across a stream will be remembered forever.
The same is true for each and every one of us. Of course, Hashem records every mitzvah we do, but He also archives every extra bit of effort we invest along the way.
The Chovas HaLevavos (Shaar Cheshbon HaNefesh, Perek 5) teaches that every single act performed on the service of Hashem must be viewed as important. Even a single seemingly insignificant word, or a single unimportant glance, which is lishmah, for the sake of serving the Ribbono Shel Olam, is considered substantial and noteworthy to Hashem. Then, the Chovas HaLevavos states the immortal words: כי המעט ממך רב אצלו, what seems like a small matter to us is significant to Hashem.
The Manos HaLevi states that the Megillah chose to record the fact that Mordechai had to cross a river in his quest to save Klal Yisroel because, however, insignificant this act may appear to us, Hashem cherishes it.
