Protest Strategies in the Megillah
Family History of Protest
(5) In the fortress Shushan lived a Jew by the name of Mordecai, son of Jair son of Shimei son of Kish, a Benjaminite.
The Problem
(יג) וְנִשְׁל֨וֹחַ סְפָרִ֜ים בְּיַ֣ד הָרָצִים֮ אֶל־כָּל־מְדִינ֣וֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ֒ לְהַשְׁמִ֡יד לַהֲרֹ֣ג וּלְאַבֵּ֣ד אֶת־כָּל־הַ֠יְּהוּדִים מִנַּ֨עַר וְעַד־זָקֵ֨ן טַ֤ף וְנָשִׁים֙ בְּי֣וֹם אֶחָ֔ד בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר לְחֹ֥דֶשׁ שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֖ר הוּא־חֹ֣דֶשׁ אֲדָ֑ר וּשְׁלָלָ֖ם לָבֽוֹז׃ ...(א) וּמָרְדֳּכַ֗י יָדַע֙ אֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַעֲשָׂ֔ה וַיִּקְרַ֤ע מָרְדֳּכַי֙ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֔יו וַיִּלְבַּ֥שׁ שַׂ֖ק וָאֵ֑פֶר וַיֵּצֵא֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֔יר וַיִּזְעַ֛ק זְעָקָ֥ה גְדֹלָ֖ה וּמָרָֽה׃ (ב) וַיָּב֕וֹא עַ֖ד לִפְנֵ֣י שַֽׁעַר־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין לָב֛וֹא אֶל־שַׁ֥עַר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בִּלְב֥וּשׁ שָֽׂק׃ (ג) וּבְכָל־מְדִינָ֣ה וּמְדִינָ֗ה מְקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דְּבַר־הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וְדָתוֹ֙ מַגִּ֔יעַ אֵ֤בֶל גָּדוֹל֙ לַיְּהוּדִ֔ים וְצ֥וֹם וּבְכִ֖י וּמִסְפֵּ֑ד שַׂ֣ק וָאֵ֔פֶר יֻצַּ֖ע לָֽרַבִּֽים׃ ...(יג) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מָרְדֳּכַ֖י לְהָשִׁ֣יב אֶל־אֶסְתֵּ֑ר אַל־תְּדַמִּ֣י בְנַפְשֵׁ֔ךְ לְהִמָּלֵ֥ט בֵּית־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מִכָּל־הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃ (יד) כִּ֣י אִם־הַחֲרֵ֣שׁ תַּחֲרִישִׁי֮ בָּעֵ֣ת הַזֹּאת֒ רֶ֣וַח וְהַצָּלָ֞ה יַעֲמ֤וֹד לַיְּהוּדִים֙ מִמָּק֣וֹם אַחֵ֔ר וְאַ֥תְּ וּבֵית־אָבִ֖יךְ תֹּאבֵ֑דוּ וּמִ֣י יוֹדֵ֔עַ אִם־לְעֵ֣ת כָּזֹ֔את הִגַּ֖עַתְּ לַמַּלְכֽוּת׃ (טו) וַתֹּ֥אמֶר אֶסְתֵּ֖ר לְהָשִׁ֥יב אֶֽל־מָרְדֳּכָֽי׃ (טז) לֵךְ֩ כְּנ֨וֹס אֶת־כָּל־הַיְּהוּדִ֜ים הַֽנִּמְצְאִ֣ים בְּשׁוּשָׁ֗ן וְצ֣וּמוּ עָ֠לַי וְאַל־תֹּאכְל֨וּ וְאַל־תִּשְׁתּ֜וּ שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת יָמִים֙ לַ֣יְלָה וָי֔וֹם גַּם־אֲנִ֥י וְנַעֲרֹתַ֖י אָצ֣וּם כֵּ֑ן וּבְכֵ֞ן אָב֤וֹא אֶל־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־כַדָּ֔ת וְכַאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָבַ֖דְתִּי אָבָֽדְתִּי׃ (יז) וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֖ר מָרְדֳּכָ֑י וַיַּ֕עַשׂ כְּכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוְּתָ֥ה עָלָ֖יו אֶסְתֵּֽר׃ (ס)
And letters were sent to all the king’s provinces, to destroy, slay, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take their possessions...
Response 1: Public Gathering and Mourning
(1) When Mordecai learned all that had happened, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes. He went through the city, crying out loudly and bitterly, (2) until he came in front of the palace gate; for one could not enter the palace gate wearing sackcloth.— (3) Also, in every province that the king’s command and decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing, and everybody lay in sackcloth and ashes.—
Response 2: Appealing to People in Power
(5) Thereupon Esther summoned Hathach, one of the eunuchs whom the king had appointed to serve her, and sent him to Mordecai to learn the why and wherefore of it all. (6) Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the palace gate; (7) and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and all about the money that Haman had offered to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. (8) He also gave him the written text of the law that had been proclaimed in Shushan for their destruction. [He bade him] show it to Esther and inform her, and charge her to go to the king and to appeal to him and to plead with him for her people. (9) When Hathach came and delivered Mordecai’s message to Esther, (10) Esther told Hathach to take back to Mordecai the following reply: (11) “All the king’s courtiers and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any person, man or woman, enters the king’s presence in the inner court without having been summoned, there is but one law for him—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the golden scepter to him may he live. Now I have not been summoned to visit the king for the last thirty days.”
Approach 3: Appeal to God
(ה) וּבָ֛א הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ דָּוִ֖ד עַד־בַּֽחוּרִ֑ים וְהִנֵּ֣ה מִשָּׁם֩ אִ֨ישׁ יוֹצֵ֜א מִמִּשְׁפַּ֣חַת בֵּית־שָׁא֗וּל וּשְׁמוֹ֙ שִׁמְעִ֣י בֶן־גֵּרָ֔א יֹצֵ֥א יָצ֖וֹא וּמְקַלֵּֽל׃ (ו) וַיְסַקֵּ֤ל בָּֽאֲבָנִים֙ אֶת־דָּוִ֔ד וְאֶת־כָּל־עַבְדֵ֖י הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֑ד וְכָל־הָעָם֙ וְכָל־הַגִּבֹּרִ֔ים מִימִינ֖וֹ וּמִשְּׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃ (ז) וְכֹֽה־אָמַ֥ר שִׁמְעִ֖י בְּקַֽלְל֑וֹ צֵ֥א צֵ֛א אִ֥ישׁ הַדָּמִ֖ים וְאִ֥ישׁ הַבְּלִיָּֽעַל׃ (ח) הֵשִׁיב֩ עָלֶ֨יךָ ה' כֹּ֣ל ׀ דְּמֵ֣י בֵית־שָׁא֗וּל אֲשֶׁ֤ר מָלַ֙כְתָּ֙ תחתו [תַּחְתָּ֔יו] וַיִּתֵּ֤ן ה' אֶת־הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה בְּיַ֖ד אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם בְּנֶ֑ךָ וְהִנְּךָ֙ בְּרָ֣עָתֶ֔ךָ כִּ֛י אִ֥ישׁ דָּמִ֖ים אָֽתָּה׃ (ט) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲבִישַׁ֤י בֶּן־צְרוּיָה֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לָ֣מָּה יְקַלֵּ֞ל הַכֶּ֤לֶב הַמֵּת֙ הַזֶּ֔ה אֶת־אדושם הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ אֶעְבְּרָה־נָּ֖א וְאָסִ֥ירָה אֶת־רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃ (ס) (י) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ מַה־לִּ֥י וְלָכֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֣י צְרֻיָ֑ה כי [כֹּ֣ה] יְקַלֵּ֗ל וכי [כִּ֤י] ה' אָ֤מַר לוֹ֙ קַלֵּ֣ל אֶת־דָּוִ֔ד וּמִ֣י יֹאמַ֔ר מַדּ֖וּעַ עָשִׂ֥יתָה כֵּֽן׃ (ס) (יא) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֤ד אֶל־אֲבִישַׁי֙ וְאֶל־כָּל־עֲבָדָ֔יו הִנֵּ֥ה בְנִ֛י אֲשֶׁר־יָצָ֥א מִמֵּעַ֖י מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֑י וְאַ֨ף כִּֽי־עַתָּ֜ה בֶּן־הַיְמִינִ֗י הַנִּ֤חוּ לוֹ֙ וִֽיקַלֵּ֔ל כִּ֥י אָֽמַר־ל֖וֹ ה' (יב) אוּלַ֛י יִרְאֶ֥ה ה' בעוני [בְּעֵינִ֑י] וְהֵשִׁ֨יב ה' לִי֙ טוֹבָ֔ה תַּ֥חַת קִלְלָת֖וֹ הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ (יג) וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ דָּוִ֛ד וַאֲנָשָׁ֖יו בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ (ס) וְשִׁמְעִ֡י הֹלֵךְ֩ בְּצֵ֨לַע הָהָ֜ר לְעֻמָּת֗וֹ הָלוֹךְ֙ וַיְקַלֵּ֔ל וַיְסַקֵּ֤ל בָּֽאֲבָנִים֙ לְעֻמָּת֔וֹ וְעִפַּ֖ר בֶּעָפָֽר׃ (פ)
(5) And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out, and kept on cursing as he came. (6) And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David; and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. (7) And thus said Shimei when he cursed: ‘Begone, begone, you man of blood, and violent fellow; (8) the LORD has returned upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son; behold this is payback for your transgressions, because you are a man of blood.’ (9) Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king: ‘Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, please, and take off his head.’ (10) And the king said: ‘What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Let him curse, because the LORD has said to him: Curse David; who then shall say: Why are you cursing me?’ (11) And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants: ‘Behold, my son, who came out of my body, seeks my life; why should I care about this Benjamite? Leave him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD has told him to. (12) It may be that the LORD will take notice of me, and that the LORD will forgive me because I did not fight back when he cursed me today.’ (13) So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hill-side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
(טז) וַיָּ֣שָׁב הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיָּבֹ֖א עַד־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וִיהוּדָ֞ה בָּ֣א הַגִּלְגָּ֗לָה לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ לִקְרַ֣את הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לְהַעֲבִ֥יר אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ (יז) וַיְמַהֵ֗ר שִׁמְעִ֤י בֶן־גֵּרָא֙ בֶּן־הַיְמִינִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֖ר מִבַּֽחוּרִ֑ים וַיֵּ֙רֶד֙ עִם־אִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֔ה לִקְרַ֖את הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ דָּוִֽד׃...וְשִׁמְעִ֣י בֶן־גֵּרָ֗א נָפַל֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ בְּעָבְר֖וֹ בַּיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ (כ) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אַל־יַחֲשָׁב־לִ֣י אדושם עָוֺן֒ וְאַל־תִּזְכֹּ֗ר אֵ֚ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶעֱוָ֣ה עַבְדְּךָ֔ בַּיּ֕וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יָׄצָ֥ׄאׄ אֲדֹנִֽי־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מִירֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם לָשׂ֥וּם הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶל־לִבּֽוֹ׃ (כא) כִּ֚י יָדַ֣ע עַבְדְּךָ֔ כִּ֖י אֲנִ֣י חָטָ֑אתִי וְהִנֵּֽה־בָ֣אתִי הַיּ֗וֹם רִאשׁוֹן֙ לְכָל־בֵּ֣ית יוֹסֵ֔ף לָרֶ֕דֶת לִקְרַ֖את אדושם הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃..וַיֹּ֧אמֶר הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־שִׁמְעִ֖י לֹ֣א תָמ֑וּת וַיִּשָּׁ֥בַֽע ל֖וֹ הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
The king returned, and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal. to bring the king over the Jordan. And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, ran and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David... And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, when he would go over the Jordan. And he said unto the king: ‘Please do not punish me, and please don't remember that day when I was disrespectful to you when my lord the king went out of Jerusalem. For your servant does know that I have sinned; therefore, behold, I have come this day before everyone else to go down to meet my lord the king.’... The king said to Shimei: ‘You shall not die.’ And the king swore to him.
(א) וַיִּקְרְב֥וּ יְמֵֽי־דָוִ֖ד לָמ֑וּת וַיְצַ֛ו אֶת־שְׁלֹמֹ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר׃ (ב) אָנֹכִ֣י הֹלֵ֔ךְ בְּדֶ֖רֶךְ כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְחָזַקְתָּ֖ וְהָיִ֥יתָֽ לְאִֽישׁ׃ ...(ח) וְהִנֵּ֣ה עִ֠מְּךָ שִֽׁמְעִ֨י בֶן־גֵּרָ֥א בֶן־הַיְמִינִי֮ מִבַּחֻרִים֒ וְה֤וּא קִֽלְלַ֙נִי֙ קְלָלָ֣ה נִמְרֶ֔צֶת בְּי֖וֹם לֶכְתִּ֣י מַחֲנָ֑יִם וְהֽוּא־יָרַ֤ד לִקְרָאתִי֙ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וָאֶשָּׁ֨בַֽע ל֤וֹ בַֽה' לֵאמֹ֔ר אִם־אֲמִֽיתְךָ֖ בֶּחָֽרֶב׃ (ט) וְעַתָּה֙ אַל־תְּנַקֵּ֔הוּ כִּ֛י אִ֥ישׁ חָכָ֖ם אָ֑תָּה וְיָֽדַעְתָּ֙ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־לּ֔וֹ וְהוֹרַדְתָּ֧ אֶת־שֵׂיבָת֛וֹ בְּדָ֖ם שְׁאֽוֹל׃ (י) וַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב דָּוִ֖ד עִם־אֲבֹתָ֑יו וַיִּקָּבֵ֖ר בְּעִ֥יר דָּוִֽד׃ (פ)
(1) The days of David came near to death; and he charged Solomon his son, saying: ...(8) And, behold, there is with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, of Bahurim, who cursed me with a terrible curse when I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by the LORD, saying: I will not put you to death with the sword. (9) Now therefore hold him not guiltless, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his pig head down to the grave with blood.’ (10) And David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.
(מד) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶל־שִׁמְעִ֗י אַתָּ֤ה יָדַ֙עְתָּ֙ אֵ֣ת כָּל־הָרָעָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר יָדַע֙ לְבָ֣בְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתָ לְדָוִ֣ד אָבִ֑י וְהֵשִׁ֧יב ה' אֶת־רָעָתְךָ֖ בְּרֹאשֶֽׁךָ׃ (מה) וְהַמֶּ֥לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה בָּר֑וּךְ וְכִסֵּ֣א דָוִ֗ד יִהְיֶ֥ה נָכ֛וֹן לִפְנֵ֥י ה' עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃ (מו) וַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֶת־בְּנָיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע וַיֵּצֵ֕א וַיִּפְגַּע־בּ֖וֹ וַיָּמֹ֑ת וְהַמַּמְלָכָ֥ה נָכ֖וֹנָה בְּיַד־שְׁלֹמֹֽה׃
(44) The king also said to Shimei: ‘You know all the wickedness which you have done, that you did to David my father; therefore the LORD shall return your wickedness upon your own head. (45) But king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever.’ (46) So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out, and fell upon him, so that he died. And the kingdom was established under Solomon.
(ח) פְּתַח־פִּ֥יךָ לְאִלֵּ֑ם אֶל־דִּ֝֗ין כָּל־בְּנֵ֥י חֲלֽוֹף׃ (ט) פְּתַח־פִּ֥יךָ שְׁפָט־צֶ֑דֶק וְ֝דִ֗ין עָנִ֥י וְאֶבְיֽוֹן׃ (פ)
(8) Speak up for the speechless, for the rights of all the unfortunate. (9) Speak up, judge righteously, champion the poor and the needy.
(כג) וַיִּגַּ֥שׁ אַבְרָהָ֖ם וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הַאַ֣ף תִּסְפֶּ֔ה צַדִּ֖יק עִם־רָשָֽׁע׃ (כד) אוּלַ֥י יֵ֛שׁ חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים צַדִּיקִ֖ם בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֑יר הַאַ֤ף תִּסְפֶּה֙ וְלֹא־תִשָּׂ֣א לַמָּק֔וֹם לְמַ֛עַן חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים הַצַּדִּיקִ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃ (כה) חָלִ֨לָה לְּךָ֜ מֵעֲשֹׂ֣ת ׀ כַּדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה לְהָמִ֤ית צַדִּיק֙ עִם־רָשָׁ֔ע וְהָיָ֥ה כַצַּדִּ֖יק כָּרָשָׁ֑ע חָלִ֣לָה לָּ֔ךְ הֲשֹׁפֵט֙ כָּל־הָאָ֔רֶץ לֹ֥א יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה מִשְׁפָּֽט׃
(23) Abraham came forward and said, “Will You sweep away the innocent along with the guilty? (24) What if there should be fifty innocent within the city; will You then wipe out the place and not forgive it for the sake of the innocent fifty who are in it? (25) Far be it from You to do such a thing, to bring death upon the innocent as well as the guilty, so that innocent and guilty fare alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?”
Kavod Malchut: What level of respect must we show to government leaders?
הרואה מלכי ישראל אומר ברוך שחלק מכבודו ליראיו מלכי עובדי כוכבים אומר ברוך שנתן מכבודו לבריותיו א"ר יוחנן לעולם ישתדל אדם לרוץ לקראת מלכי ישראל ולא לקראת מלכי ישראל בלבד אלא אפי' לקראת מלכי עובדי כוכבים שאם יזכה יבחין בין מלכי ישראל למלכי עובדי כוכבים
Who beholds the kings of Israel should say, "Blessed... Who has imparted of Your glory to them that fear You"; but on seeing the kings of other peoples he says, "Blessed... Who has imparted of Your glory to Your creatures." R. Johanan said : A man should always run to meet the kings of Israel ; and not only the kings of Israel, but even to meet the kings of other peoples, for if he is worthy, he will distinguish between the kings of Israel and of other peoples.
ת"ש דאמר ר' אלעזר בר צדוק מדלגין היינו על גבי ארונות של מתים לקראת מלכי ישראל ולא לקראת מלכי ישראל בלבד אמרו אלא אפי' לקראת מלכי עכו"ם שאם יזכה יבחין בין מלכי ישראל למלכי עכו"ם- ונתבאר שם שהתירו לעבור על איסור טומאה מדרבנן "משום כבוד מלכים".
Come and hear : R. Eleazar b. Sadok said : We used to leap upon the coffins of the dead to meet the kings of Israel, and not only to meet kings of Israel do they so permit, but even to meet the kings of other nations ; for if he be worthy, he will discern between the kings of Israel and the kings of other nations.- The rabbis thus decreed that a person was allowed to transgress the prohibition of coming in contact with a dead body so as to fulfill the commandment of showing respect to royalty.
The Gemara in Brachot demands a high level of respect to be given to kings, including non-Israelite kings. Is a president like a king to whom respect must be given?
תשובה של הראב"ד
"כללו של דבר, כל מי שהוא חשוב בשולטנותו כמלך, ודן והורג במשפט, ואין מי שמשנה על דבריו מהן ללאו ומלאו להן, כמלך הוא, ומברך עליו שחלק מכבודו ושנתן מכבודו".
Ra'avad: 12th Century Provence
The principle is that anyone who is important in his/her ruling power like a king, and has the power to send someone to be killed while nobody has the direct power to overturn his orders is considered to be like a king. You should say a blessing when you see this person (in person) and should give him/her respect
רב משה שטרנבוך
בזכרוני נכשהגיע לארץ ישראל לביקור הנשיא מאמריקא נחלקו הרבנים אם
לברך שנתן מכבודו או לא ולדעתי כיון שמעמדו הוא תלוי ועומד בהחלטת בית הנבחרים שמה שבכחם להדיח אותו וסמכויותיו מוגבלים מאד אין לברך ולא דמי למלוכה באנגליה אפי' בזמננו שעל כל חוק חדש המלכה חותמת ולא מתחלפת אלא המלוכה בידה וביד צאצאיה וכבודה ככבוד מלכים ממש... ולא דומה לכבוד מלך כלל והוא רק כעין ראש ממשלה ולא בגדר מלך כלל
Rav Moshe Shternbuch
I remember when the President of the United States came to America for a visit, and the rabbis disagreed on whether to treat him like a king who we must give high levels of respect to. My position is that, since the President of the U.S is only in power for a limited period of time, and is based on a decision of the people, and because his powers are limited constitutionally, we do not need to say a blessing when we see him. He is not parallel to the English king/queen, even in our time, as any new piece of legislature must be signed by the king/queen, and the power is passed down hereditarily. Furthermore, the queen is actually royalty, unlike in America where it is just an elected office...thus the American president is not at all like the British queen, and is not considered royalty at all
רב עובדיה יוסף ז"ל יחוה דעת 2:28
נראה שהואיל ויש בידו של נשיא מדינה לקבל או לדחות המלצת חנינה על מי שנידון למות על ידי בתי המשפט המוסמכים לכך נמצא שסמכות דיני נפשות מסורה בידו והרי הוא כמלך שדן והורג במשפט ואף על פי שהנשיא נבחר רק לתקופה מסויימת ואינו נשאר בנשיאותו כמלך שנשאר במלכותו עד סוף ימיו מכל מקום כיון שבאשר הוא שם נשיא הוא, מברכים עליו בשם ומלכות
R' Ovadia Yosef, Yechaveh Daat
It appears that, since the U.S President has the ability to grant a pardon to a person who has been sentenced to death by the courts, it is apparent that the power of life and death is put into his hands, and he is thus like a king who has power over life and death according to the law. Even though the president is chosen by the people for a proscribed period of time, and he/she cannot stay forever like a king/queen, while she is the president a person should make a blessing on her that they would make on seeing a queen