In the story of Purim, everything was reversed. Instead of Hama destroying the Jewish people, he was destroyed. Instead of Mordechai being the first to fall, he was the first to rise up.
But, the Megillah tells us, he did not rise up alone. Rather, due to the fact that Mordechai was respected so much, the Jewish people as a whole were venerated. As the leader of the Jewish people, he lifted them up with him.
This week’s parsha, Ki Tisa, tells us a similar message.
After the Jewish people had sinned with the Golden Calf, G-d instructed Moshe to, “Go Down.” According to the Midrash, Moshe was commanded to descend from his lofty position. He was excommunicated from the Heavenly Tribunal.
We know that Moshe was not present when the Jews sinned. He was atop the mountain studying Torah. Not only did he not participate, he could not even protest their sin, because he was unaware! So, how can he be faulted and punished for something he had absolutely nothing to do with?!
The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains that nonetheless, he was adversely affected by their sin. Such is the nature of the bond between a true Jewish leader and his people—when they fall, he falls too.
It’s a two-way street.
Just as Mordechai lifted the Jewish people, so too the Jewish people can either lift or demote their leaders.
As the parsha’s name Ki Tisa means to lift up, let’s use this opportunity to left up our leaders and all of our people!