YOU CAN’T SATISFY EVERYONE

“Rabbi Yochanan said, ‘Great is the power of a morsel of food, for by denying it [to a guest] it can distance those who are close kin and by providing it, it can bring close those who are distant.” (Sanhedrin 103b-104a)

The ramifications of extending an invitation to someone to ‘break bread’ should not be underestimated. Feuding clans have put an end to years of animosity when they agreed to sit down and eat together and relatives have cut off all ties with their family members when one side failed to invite the other to a meal. Achashverosh, King of ancient Persia, was well aware of what a good meal could achieve, in his case, the loyalty of his subjects. Upon reaching the milestone of three years in the monarchy, the King held a grand banquet lasting seven days for all the citizens of his capital city, Shushan. The Book of Esther (1:5-8) describes the magnificent décor in the palace as well as the way in which the alcoholic beverages were served: “The drinks were served in golden goblets – no two goblets alike – and royal wine in abundance, according to the law, without coercion, for so the King had ordered all the officers of his house that they should do according to every man’s pleasure (kirtzon ish va’ish).”

The literal translation of the last phrase reads “according to the desire of a man and a man.” The text is indicating that although the king wanted to satisfy all his guests in general, he was concerned about two men, in particular. The Talmud (Megillah 12a) identifies these two individuals as Mordechai and Haman, both of whom are described as a “man” in the Book of Esther (2:5 and 7:6). Maharsha, in his commentary (Chiddushei Aggadot) on the Talmud, explains that ‘Mordechai’ represents the entire Jewish community and ‘Haman’, the Gentile community. The King did not want to insult the Jews by serving them food that would be forbidden for consumption according to their laws. At the same time, he also wanted his non-Jewish guests to be happy with the menu he was serving them. 

Was Achashverosh successful? Was he able to fulfil the wishes of the ‘Mordechais’ and ‘Hamans’ who attended his banquet? The Midrash (Esther Rabba 2:14) answers in the negative. “The Holy One, blessed is He, said, ‘I do not satisfy the desires of all My creations and you attempt to satisfy the desires of every man! [Two parables are then offered to illustrate this concept]: Normally, when two men want to marry the same woman, can she marry both? No! Either she will marry this one or that one. Likewise when two ships are setting out from the harbour, this one wants a north wind and this one a south wind, can one wind propel them both? No! Rather, the wind will assist either one or the other. [Hashem continues:] Tomorrow two people will appear before you seeking judgement, “the Jewish man” [Mordechai] and “this man who is an adversary and an enemy” [Haman], can you possibly satisfy both? Rather you will elevate one and hang the other!” Haman wanted to destroy all the Jews, Mordechai wanted to save them all. How could the King possibly satisfy both men’s desires?

Perhaps this Midrash can best be paraphrased with the words of a well-known aphorism, often attributed to Abraham Lincoln but most probably stated by the 15^th century English monk, John Lydgate, “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” This is an important lesson to all those who work for the community. Don’t be disappointed when you do not please everyone because God Himself set up the world in such a way that He does not satisfy everyone at once.

We encounter this lesson at the beginning of the Book of Esther and again in its final verse. The Megillah (10:3) ends by telling us of the greatness of Mordechai who was promoted to become the second-in-command to the King. He wore the royal garments and his words had a great impact on the royal ear. He was respected by Gentile and Jew alike: “For Mordechai the Jew was viceroy to King Achashverosh; he was a great man among the Jews, and found favour with the multitude (rov) of his brethren; he sought the good of his people and was concerned for the welfare of all his posterity.” Rashi, citing the sages, notes that Mordechai found favour only with the multitude – the majority – of his brethren, but not with all of them. He explains that some members of the Sanhedrin severed ties with him when he became close to the government and was no longer able to devote all of his time to Torah study. This is an amazing comment. Mordechai is the hero, together with Esther, of the Megillah. He risked life and limb to save the Jews and he brought about a Jewish renaissance and a renewed religious revival. He vanquished Haman and his hordes and he only ever sought out the best for his co-religionists. Nevertheless, he could not satisfy everyone.  And the point in telling us this is that we should take heart in the knowledge that “you can’t please everyone all the time.”

Lee, Chani Merryl & Naomi join me in wishing you Shabbat Shalom and Purim Sameach!  

Lee and I are away from 23 February to 1 March. See you on Purim!

Rabbi Liebenberg.

For this week’s YouTube message: https://youtu.be/Dcnf8yKKVgM