{"id":53880,"date":"2020-03-02T04:44:44","date_gmt":"2020-03-02T10:44:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=53880"},"modified":"2020-03-02T04:44:44","modified_gmt":"2020-03-02T10:44:44","slug":"person-in-the-parsha-tetzaveh-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/person-in-the-parsha-tetzaveh-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Person in the Parsha: Tetzaveh"},"content":{"rendered":"

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB<\/p>\n

\u201cTHE LEADER’S CLOTHING<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

Nowadays, all leaders look the same. Their typical garb is a dark business suit, a white or pale blue shirt, and a tie with a dash of color. They dress no differently from any other successful entrepreneur or professional. They wear no distinguishing sign to identify them as leaders, as men in positions of great power and responsibility.<\/p>\n

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This trace becomes apparent if one carefully examines the phylacteries, or tefillin, which Jewish men don most mornings of the year. If one gazes carefully at the undersurface of the leather phylacteries he will notice twelve stitches holding the various compartments in place. The halachic authorities inform us that these twelve stitches symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel. (See Mishneh Berurah, 32:51\/228).<\/p>\n

The person who wears tefillin in our day must meticulously avoid considering himself superior to the rest of Israel, even to those who neglect the mitzvah of tefillin, just as Aaron in his day was to avoid such haughtiness.<\/p>\n

There is a fundamental lesson here to be learned by all leaders, of small communities as well as of large nations, whether of the Jewish people or of the world at large. The lesson is that a true leader acts as the leader of all of his constituents and not merely as the leader of those who share his beliefs and convictions.<\/p>\n

That Mordecai was such a true leader can be supported by a homiletic analysis of the very final verse of the book of Esther. It reads: “For Mordecai\u2026was highly regarded by his many brethren; he sought the good of his people and interceded for the welfare of all his kindred.”<\/p>\n

Rashi presents an alternative translation to the phrase, “he was highly regarded by his many brethren” so that it reads, “he was highly regarded by most of his brethren”\u2014that is, most but not all of his brethren. A contingent of Mordecai’s colleagues objected to Mordecai’s involvement in public affairs, which resulted in his diminished involvement in religious matters.<\/p>\n

Many are troubled by this interpretation, wondering why the book of Esther would end with a critical remark against the heroic Mordecai. A relatively obscure Hasidic sage, Rabbi Shalom Yosef of Shpikov, creatively brushes aside this difficulty and explains that the entire verse is a salute to Mordecai’s great leadership. Yes, Rabbi Shalom Yosef concedes, Mordecai had his opponents. But nevertheless, “he sought the good of his people,” even those who disagreed with him. And, “he interceded for the welfare of all his kindred”\u2014even those who were his fiercest critics.<\/p>\n

Understanding the final words of the Purim story in this manner allows us to see Mordecai as a heroic leader from start to finish. The Megilah begins with an account of Mordecai\u2019s bravery and courage and concern for Esther. It ends with the portrait of a leader who seeks the well-being of all of his people, even of those who are deeply disappointed in him.<\/p>\n

Purim is an opportune moment for us all to pray that our contemporary leaders, at every level and of every nation, learn to emulate Mordecai’s example.<\/p>\n

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