_a.jpg "צילום: ישראל ברדוגו")
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Photo: Yisrael Bardugo
Special: Dvar Torah for Women's Day
International Women's Day is celebrated between Purim and Passover. According to rabbi Kelman, there's a reason for that
Falling annually sometime between Purim and Pesach seems to be the right date for International Women's Day, although in truth, I do not know why this particular date was chosen. Our tradition would be comfortable with this timing as women have played important roles in these two holidays.
Our sages asked, are women obligated to hear the reading of the Megillah on Purim, when it is a "time-bound" commandment? Women were, traditionally exempted from these times bound mitzvoth, as they were busy with husband and children and other domestic studies that did not allow them easy access to the House of Study or of Prayer.
But, this particular mitzvah, and the drinking of the four cups of wine on Passover, is required of women, because "they too experienced these miracles." Thus says Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Levi in the Talmud.
Centuries later, the grandsons of medieval Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, who only had daughters) in their commentary, take this a step further. "These miracles were brought to us through the acts of righteous women; on Purim, there was Esther, on Chanukha, there was Judith, and on Passover, the righteous women brought redemption."
These women were most likely the midwives who saved the Hebrew babies and others say, women who kept their husband's spirits high in the face of slavery.
The essence of the miracle
What is it about these women that make them the essence of the miracle? What all these women have in common is that they refused to accept their predicament. They rebelled against their reality; they would not be enslaved to the fate that was imposed on them. These righteous women of Egypt could be anyone who as ever defied a harsh decree, anyone who has held her head high in the face of oppression.
A few weeks ago we celebrated what was originally Mother's Day in Israel, now "Family Day". Due to pressure for a more equal celebration (and perhaps, since there was never a Father's Day in Israel) we now embrace the family in its diversity.
The date was set to indicate the memory of Henrietta Szold (d. 1945), founder of Hadassah and pioneer in women's health, particularly young mothers. Re-naming it as Family Day, is an irony that would not have been lost on Henrietta Szold, for she was way ahead of her time, and never a mother herself. She was, however, a righteous woman in every sense of the word; speaking truth to power, spreading compassion and care.
As we advance women in every field, and as we create a more equal and fair society for all, I would hope that one International Women's Day might meet the same fate as Mother's Day. Or better yet, we would cancel it altogether and strive that everyday be a better day for all humanity, in the spirit of our righteous women.
Rabbi Naamah Kelman is the Director of the Year in Israel Program and Educational Initiatives at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem
