LIVED Exact dates unknown, around the Hebrew year 3400
BURIED Hamedan, Iran
When Mordechai Hatzadik was younger, he was picked by Achashveirosh to go together with Haman and conquer the land of India. Achashveirosh gave each of them 6,000 soldiers, and gave them equal amounts of money to feed the soldiers. Haman wasted all the money very quickly, and Mordechai saved up. When Haman ran out of money, he came to Mordechai and begged him to lend him money at very high interest rates. Mordechai refused.
Haman’s soldiers were starving! Haman told Mordechai that if he doesn’t get his hands on some food for them, they will kill him!
He ran to Mordechai and offered him an even higher rate. Mordechai said, “If you become my slave, I will give you food.” So it was that Haman sold himself to Mordechai and wrote on the sole of Mordechai’s shoe that he was his slave.
When they got back home, Haman did housework for Mordechai one day a week, up until Achashveirosh made him the biggest minister.
When Haman walked out of the palace on the day he had the first party with Esther Hamalka, the Megillah says that when he saw Mordechai sitting there, he got really upset. Chazal teach us that this was because Mordechai picked up his shoe and showed Haman: look you are my slave! (Medrash)
Fun Facts
The Ben Ish Chai writes that Mordechai Hatzadik had nice, big peyos. Even when he would sit with all the ministers, he proudly showed his peyos to everyone!
Did you know?
… that Mordechai Hatzadik had the neshama of Moshe Rabbeinu, and Haman had the neshama of the Mitzri that Moshe killed? This is why Haman hated Mordechai and wanted to kill him! Esther had the neshama of Basya, the daughter of Pharaoh. That’s why Mordechai adopted her, just like Basya had adopted Moshe!
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 72 Purim.