March is Women’s History Month, an annual time dedicated to highlighting the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. It is also the time that we celebrate Purim, the story of strong women in Jewish history. The story focuses on Esther, who, like us, lived in the diaspora of her time. Often overlooked is the strength of Vashti. Though not Jewish, Vashti’s strength in standing up for herself and maintaining her dignity in the face of serious consequences must be respected.
Both women were in vulnerable positions and were not granted full agency in their own lives. In the context of their society, women were simply objects to be admired and could be disposed of and replaced on a whim. Their gender alone made them vulnerable in a society that didn’t share rights equitably. Not only women, but all people can learn a lot from Esther and Vashti. Both women had a strong sense of self-identity and integrity. They chose not to conform to the pressures of the society around them. Against all odds, they believed in and trusted their authentic self. The story of Purim goes on to tell how this strength of self enabled Esther to find a path to save the Jewish people in the face of overt discrimination.
Unfortunately, discrimination, prejudice and violence continue to be issues that Jews have to deal with. Our community had to face this hard fact in February when our adopted stretch of the Greenway was targeted with anti-Semitic graffiti. Being faced with the difficult truth that this level of hatred against the Jewish people is tough to bear. We are thankful to our partners in the city of Fayetteville for their quick response.
Even so, Temple Shalom and our Jewish community remain strong in our sense of identity. In the tradition of Esther and the story of Purim, we cannot give in to those that wish us harm. Torah is filled with lessons about the importance of tolerance and acceptance of others. In the face of hatred, we must actively work to remain open and welcoming, while balancing the need for community security and well being. We must stand up and preserve our Jewish identity, not just for ourselves but for all people that find themselves in a minority or labeled and “othered” by false and harmful stereotypes.
If you want to learn more and find ways to take action, volunteer with Temple Shalom or visit the Union for Reform Judaism’s Religious Action Center, https://rac.org/.