Don’t Cause Grief to Others

Many commentators point out the similarities in wording between Eisav’s crying out upon hearing that the ברכה was taken from him, and Mordechai’s crying out after learning of Haman’s plans.

In פרשת תולדות it says, ויצעק צעקה גדולה ומרה and in מגילת אסתר it’s written, ויזעק זעקה גדולה ומרה. The translation in both instances is the same. Both Eisav and Mordechai cried a great and bitter cry. The words צעקה and זעקה both mean to cry out.

Rabbi Twerski takes this interesting similarity to teach that causing another person distress, is a very grievous sin. Yakov Avinu was obeying his mother’s instructions by dressing up as his brother. And it was clear that Eisav had sold the birthright and didn’t deserve it. Nevertheless, causing another person grief is a very serious matter. It is so serious that it may have been responsible for Eisav’s descendant, Haman, to threaten to annihilate the Jewish people.

We are to take this message to heart in our day to day dealings. If one fills the role as employer and he needs to dismiss an employee. Or, he has ten applicants for one position. He should fulfill his task with compassion and kindness. It’s bad enough that the other side will feel disappointment. He does not need to also feel humiliation.

We should always do our best to consider the feelings of others. Fortunately, we do not have to deal with Eisavs, but we should always try to be nice.