Machshava:

Purim 

Nach:

Esther 

Description

Mordekhai's refusal to prostrate himself before Haman is the catalyst of the story of Purim; if Mordekhai bows or absents himself from the court, there is no decree, no threat and no salvation. What was Mordekhai's reason for refusing to bow? We survey the traditional proposals made to answer this question and then propose a different perspective.