There has been much written about the satirical nature of Megilat Esther and the buffoonery of the King, Achashverosh. His lavish balls and his decadent dating style are matched only by The Bachelor on ABC.
But, no one would tell you that Achashverosh is the main character. His endless power and wealth are merely the back-drop for thoughtful lay leaders to advance their agenda.
Mordechai and Esther paid close attention to the politics of their age and realized an opportunity. The Jewish people, they must of have thought, need to stand up for themselves. The survival of the Jewish people, they likely feared, was at the whim of power hungry advisors (who wear funny hats everywhere they go).
Moredechai, a name that stems from the Babylonian deity -Marduk, is no stranger to the culture in which he lives. In fact, it is possible he chose to live in Persia over the land of Israel (potentially an option at that time). Perhaps things were good for Mordechai and he just wanted to keep them that way. Same with Esther, who worked her way to the most inner court. Dining with those in power and being amongst the most beloved by the King.
But, they stuck to their plan and maybe they even pandered. But, they kept their Jewish identity and values at the core of their being and mission. They realized that power can be used as a means to an end, and isn’t meant to be the goal itself.
Let this Purim remind us that it is lay leaders with good values and a finely tuned compass who make history.