Mordecai in Zion

Legends of the Jews turns to Mordecai in Zion.

Can you imagine the dread?

Instead of singing songs of liberation, Jews everywhere wept. They lamented, paralyzed by fear. The joyous anticipation of Passover was replaced by a chilling premonition of doom. It's hard to fathom the emotional whiplash.

The terror was perhaps most acute for MordecAI himself. And here's where the story takes an even more painful turn. It wasn’t just external enemies he faced; his own people turned on him. They blamed him. Accused him of provoking Haman’s wrath with his "haughty behavior."

Imagine that burden. To not only face imminent death but to also bear the weight of your community's anger and despair. A leader, alone, facing not only the gallows but the scorn of those he sought to protect.

It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? About leadership, about blame, about the crushing weight of responsibility in the face of overwhelming adversity. And perhaps, most of all, it makes you wonder about the strength it takes to stand firm, even when your own people doubt you. Even when the very night meant for celebration becomes a night of profound mourning.

The night during which Haman erected the cross for Mordecai was the first night of Passover, the very night in which miracles without number had ever been done for the Fathers and for Israel. But this time the night of joy was changed into a night of mourning and a night of fears. Wherever there were Jews, they passed the night in weeping and lamenting. The greatest terrors it held for Mordecai, because his own people accused him of having provoked their misfortunes by his haughty behavior toward Haman.