Lessons in leadership from Mordechai's Purim story. Purim is a holiday of costumes, disguises, and reversals. But beneath the masks and merriment lies a powerful lesson about leadership - one that feels more urgent than ever today. At the center of the Purim story stands Mordechai, a leader who refuses to hide. While others in the royal court navigate political intrigue with careful diplomacy, Mordechai makes a different choice: he steps into the crisis with full visibility. Instead of dressing for success, he dons sackcloth and ashes, making himself indistinguishable from his suffering people. And it is precisely this act - his refusal to distance himself - that ultimately turns the tide of history. His leadership in a moment of crisis stands in stark contrast to the festive costumes that characterize Purim.