What Mordechai's cry teaches kids about courage

Imagine hearing a loud, desperate cry echoing through the streets of your city. Not a cry of pain — a cry meant to wake people up. That's exactly what Mordechai did when he learned that the Jewish people faced destruction. And buried inside that dramatic moment from the Megillah is one of the most powerful lessons we can give our children: sometimes, it's your moment to act — and nobody else can do it for you.

A cry that changed everything

Mordechai didn't send a polite letter. He didn't schedule a meeting. He tore his clothing, put on sackcloth, and wailed in the middle of the city. Why? Because the situation was urgent. Haman had convinced Achashverosh to issue a decree to destroy the Jewish people. Every man, woman, and child was in danger.

Mordechai understood something that we sometimes forget: when the moment calls for action, you can't whisper. You have to make yourself heard. Teaching kids courage starts right here — with the willingness to stand up, even when it's uncomfortable, even when people think you're "acting strange."

Esther, hearing about Mordechai's behavior from inside the palace, didn't yet know what was happening. She sent clothing to replace his sackcloth. But Mordechai refused. He needed her to understand — this was not a moment for comfort. This was a moment for truth.

The excuse that almost made sense

When Mordechai finally got his message through to Esther — go to the king, plead for your people — her response was completely logical. "If I approach the king without being summoned, I could be killed. That's the law. And he hasn't called for me in 30 days."

She wasn't being selfish. She wasn't being lazy. She had a real, legitimate reason to hesitate. And this is exactly the part of the story that makes it so relevant for our families today.

How often do we — or our kids — have a perfectly reasonable excuse not to do the right thing? "It's not my problem." "Someone else will handle it." "I might get in trouble." These excuses make sense on the surface. But Mordechai's response cuts right through them.

He told Esther: "If you stay silent now, salvation will come to the Jewish people from somewhere else. But you and your family will be lost. And who knows — maybe this is the very reason you became queen in the first place."

That line — "Who knows if it was for just such a time that you reached this position" — is one of the most stirring sentences in all of Tanach. Mordechai was teaching Esther, and teaching all of us, that Hashem places us in specific situations for a reason. Our job is to recognize the moment and rise to it.

Teaching kids courage means teaching them about moments

Here's what makes the Purim story such a goldmine for teaching kids courage: it doesn't present a superhero. Esther was afraid. She had every reason to be. But she chose to act anyway — with Tefillah, with fasting, and with Emunah that Hashem would be with her.

Esther's response to Mordechai was remarkable. She didn't just say, "Fine, I'll go." She said, "Gather all the Jews. Fast for three days. My maidens and I will fast too. And then I will go to the king — even though it's against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

She turned a moment of fear into a moment of spiritual preparation. She understood that real courage isn't the absence of fear. It's acting with purpose despite the fear — and leaning on Hashem for strength.

This is a lesson our children need desperately. Not the watered-down version of courage that says, "Be brave!" without telling them how. But the Torah's version: prepare yourself through Tefillah. Surround yourself with a community that supports you. And then take the step you need to take, trusting that Hashem put you in this exact place for this exact reason.

Rabbi Meyers and his Shmuppets bring this powerful scene to life in a way young children can feel and remember. When kids watch Mordechai's impassioned cry acted out with humor and heart, the message sticks. It moves from a story in a book to something real — something they can carry with them.

Why fasting came before action

There's a detail in this story that deserves more attention. Before Esther walked into the king's throne room, she asked the entire Jewish people to fast for three days. Why?

Because in Torah life, courage is never a solo act. Esther knew she needed Hashem's help. And she knew that the merit of an entire nation davening and fasting together would be far more powerful than anything she could do on her own.

Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler writes extensively about how true giving — true selflessness — transforms a person. Esther wasn't just risking her life. She was giving herself entirely over to her mission. And in return, she asked the Jewish people to give of themselves through fasting and Tefillah.

This is a beautiful model for our kids. Courage doesn't mean going it alone. It means doing your part while asking for help — from Hashem and from your community. When a child stands up for a classmate who's being bullied, when a kid chooses to do the right thing even though it's unpopular — that courage is strengthened when they know their family and their connection to Hashem are behind them.

Every child has "their moment"

One of the most empowering ideas we can share with our children is this: Hashem gives each of us moments that are uniquely ours. Not every moment requires the dramatic courage of Esther. Sometimes "your moment" is as simple as including a lonely child in a game. Or saying a Brachah out loud when no one else is. Or choosing honesty when a small lie would be easier.

The Gemara teaches that every person should say, "The world was created for me" — not out of arrogance, but out of responsibility. If the world was created for me, then my actions matter. My choices have weight. And when the moment comes, I need to be ready.

This is what Mordechai was telling Esther. And it's what we can tell our children every single day.

Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe, in his approach to Chinuch, emphasizes that building a child's character happens through small, consistent steps. We don't wait for a dramatic crisis to teach courage. We build it one conversation, one story, one small act of bravery at a time. The Purim story gives us a magnificent framework — but the real teaching happens at the dinner table, in the car, and in those quiet moments before bed.

Five ways to bring this lesson home today

Watch the story together. Sit down with your kids and enjoy the Shmuppets' retelling of Mordechai and Esther's mission. Pause and ask your children: "Why do you think Mordechai was crying so loudly?" Let them engage with the story on their own terms.

Ask your child about their "Esther moment." At dinner or bedtime, ask: "Was there a time today when you had to choose to do something even though it was a little scary?" Celebrate whatever they share — even if it seems small. Teaching kids courage means honoring the small victories.

Practice Tefillah before challenges. Before a hard day at school, a test, or a new situation, daven together for a moment. Show your children that just like Esther prepared spiritually before her big moment, they can too. Even a short "Hashem, please help me do the right thing" goes a long way.

Tell them about a time you were afraid but acted anyway. Children need to know that courage isn't something only Megillah heroes have. Share an age-appropriate story from your own life when you were scared but chose to step up. Your vulnerability gives them permission to be brave.

Create a family "courage jar." Every time someone in the family does something courageous — big or small — write it on a slip of paper and drop it in a jar. Read them together on Erev Shabbos. Over time, your family will build a culture where courage is noticed, named, and celebrated.

The cry that still echoes

Mordechai's cry in the streets of Shushan wasn't just for Esther. It echoes through every generation. It's a cry that says: don't be silent when you can make a difference. Don't assume someone else will step in. Hashem placed you right here, right now, for a reason.

When we teach our children this message — through the Megillah, through stories, through our own example — we give them something far more valuable than a Purim costume. We give them the confidence to rise to their moment, whatever it may be.

And that's a gift that lasts far beyond Adar.

Ready to make Torah learning unforgettable for your little ones? Torah Live's Shmuppets series brings the Megillah, Middos, and so much more to life through hilarious puppets and real Torah wisdom. Sign up for free and give your kids Torah content they'll actually ask to watch again. 🎬✨