In citing this Midrash – that Mordechai in his generation was on par with Moshe in his generation – the Rebbe Rayatz rules that this statement applies to himself: the Rebbe is the revealed Raaya Mehemna, the Faithful Shepherd, of all the people of the generation. * Compiled by Rabbi Shloma Majeski. (Underlined text is the compiler’s emphasis.)
Translated and presented by Boruch Merkur
At the time of Purim, all the Jewish people acted with self-sacrifice for Torah and Mitzvos (in the face of Haman’s decree). The self-sacrifice during Chanuka (at the time of the anti-Semitic decrees of the Greco-Persians) was (primarily) on the part of Matisyahu and his sons, whereas at the time of Haman’s decree it was all the Jewish people.
With this in mind we can explain what is stated in the Midrash – that Mordechai in his generation was on par with Moshe in his generation. Although “there is an incarnation of Moshe in every generation,” nevertheless, the Midrash says that (specifically) Mordechai in his generation was on par with Moshe in his generation.
The especial virtue of Mordechai HaYehudi is that he was a(n overt) Raaya Mehemna, a Faithful Shepherd, of all the Jewish people of his time. In this sense he was just like Moshe Raaya Mehemna, who [like a shepherd provides for his flock] channels daas, G-dly intelligence, to all the Jews of his generation. This point is also understood from the fact that the generation of Moshe is referred to as Dor Deia,* a Generation of Daas (for all the people of his time enjoyed G-dly intelligence on account of Moshe Rabbeinu). (Regarding Moshe, being a faithful shepherd of the Jewish people was manifest in his drawing down G-dly intelligence to all the people of his time. With regard to Mordechai, however, this attribute was manifest in his revealing the power of self-sacrifice within all the Jews of his time.)
In citing this Midrash – that Mordechai in his generation was on par with Moshe in his generation – the Rebbe Rayatz, who authored the maamer [that quotes this Midrash], rules that this statement applies to himself**: the Rebbe is the (revealed) Raaya Mehemna, the Faithful Shepherd, of all the people of the generation.
(Kuntres Purim-Katan 5752; maamer “V’Ata Tezaveh” 5741)
NOTES:
*See VaYikra Rabba 9:1; BaMidbar Rabba 9:3, where it is discussed.
**Reflecting the explanation of the [unusual] wording of the Mishna (Avos 3, beg.), “judgment and reckoning” (judgment and only thereafter reckoning). This teaching is brought to light by another Mishna (ibid 16): “one is punished with his knowledge and without his knowledge.” That is, after a person rules, “with his knowledge” [according to his opinion and sense of justice] in a case about someone else, he [thus] renders judgment upon himself “without his knowledge”; in accordance with his “judgment,” a “reckoning” is made as it applies to his own case. (See Likkutei Sichos Vol. 6, pg. 283, where it is discussed.)