Purim and International Women’s Day

Stephanie Hausner — March 12, 2009 – 11:16 am | Women's Issues Comments (0) Add a comment

Isn’t it interesting that Purim and International Women’s Day coincided this year? Purim is a holiday that celebrates the courageous acts of Esther— a Jewish woman who risked everything to save her people.

The Rashbam explains that Esther was the catalyst for the miracle of Purim. Therefore, Purim is one of the few times where the same obligations are bestowed on both men and women; everyone is obligated to hear the Megillah reading.

Similarly to Esther, modern Jewish women were the catalyst and foundation of the Women’s Rights Movement in this country. From Betty Friedan, who wrote the Feminine Mystique, to Congresswoman Bella Azbug, a pioneer for civil rights, to Gloria Steinem, political activist and founder of Ms. Magazine, Jewish women were at the center of social change.

What role are Jewish women playing on the forefront of social change today?  How are women supposed to reconcile their observance of Judaism while being progressives in their respective communities? How do we mark International Women’s Day and Purim at the same time?

I spent it eating some Hamentashen and attending a Women’s Campaign Forum event. My friend and ride at the time told me she admired how my political and religious convictions aligned and complemented each other. This is absolutely true, Jewish women are taught how to care for their community, teach others, and organize and lead their family and household. These are all things that fit in nicely with being a good progressive Democratic activist.

We put oranges on our seder plates, we advocate for a women’s right to chose, we march on Washington for Women’s rights, an end to genocide in Darfur, and the safety and security of Israel. We take our daughters to anti-war rallies; yet also take pride in women serving alongside men in the IDF. We run Sisterhood lunches and canvass for political candidates.

It took us a long time to get here. A place where we are not defined in the Jewish community’s role of women, but where we have redefined our identity and paved the way for women in America. Just as Esther’s heroism has been a model for Jewish women.

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