Summary: <p>As a child, I reveled in the heroism of Mordechai. I admired him for his gumption, for the way he stood up to Haman and never betrayed his values--even when his very life was at stake. I was taught to see Mordechai as a capable and wise civil servant, as a mensch who took in his orphaned niece and loved her like his own, and as a visionary who empowered the people around him, most especially his niece, Esther.</p> <p><a href="https://templeemanuel385-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/aberger_templeemanuel_com/EZcWiuv6WqBEj1M8A3aHuZUBdnF3_wawTy3-utM-NNQeFw?e=mKcdda" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">But the story of Mordechai is more complicated than that of a simple hero.</a></p> <p>Tomorrow, we're going to interrogate the narrative that so many of us were taught:</p> <p>Was Mordechai a true hero who lifted up good Jewish values every minute of his life? Or was Mordechai a self-centered politician who was so focused on his own image that he risked the safety and well-being of the Jewish people in order to prove his dedication to Judaism?</p> <p>Was Mordechai a benevolent and loving uncle? Or was he a manipulative abuser, forcing Esther to conform to his will and serve his purposes?</p> <p>Is the point of Purim to celebrate heroism in its simplest form, or does the holiday remind us that the line between hero and villain is impossibly thin such that we must take care in every moment not to cross over to the wrong side?</p>
