On Wednesday March 8th (International Women's Day), the McGill Women’s Alumnae Association will host an online discussion on the topic of “Women, Religion and Peace-making.” The event will be led by Dr. Azza Karam, Secretary General of Religions for Peace, “the world's largest and most representative multi-religious coalition” dedicated to addressing “the world’s most pressing issues” via interfaith cooperation. Dr. Karam’s presentation tackles women’s role in the peace-making process and international affairs at large. This upcoming discussion sheds light on the critical intersection between faith and gender worldwide.
Women—both mythical and historical—play a decisive role in the world’s religious and spiritual traditions. One such figure is Esther, a Jewish heroine whose courage is celebrated during the festival of Purim. In 2023, Purim takes place on March 6-7th and commemorates the Jewish people’s emancipation from the Persian Empire, as recorded in the Book of Esther*. Esther is a fascinating figure in theological and feminist discourses because of her decisive role in achieving liberation from oppressive forces. During the Achaemenid Empire, a Persian king was searching for a wife. “Esther, a young Jewish woman from Shushan, was chosen. However, following the advice of her cousin, Mordechai (who raised her after her parents died), Esther did not reveal her Jewish origins to the king.” Meanwhile, the king’s minister, Haman, continued to persecute the empire’s Jewish inhabitants. Yet, Mordechai refused to submit himself to Haman’s tyrannies. “Upon learning that Mordechai was Jewish, Haman decided to kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire. He plotted to kill them—convincing [the king] to go along with the plan—and cast purim ("lots," plural of pur), a kind of lottery, to determine the day on which he would carry out his evil deed.” At this critical moment, “Mordechai alerted Esther to Haman's evil plot, and Esther, in turn, revealed her Jewish identity to the king, convincing him to save the Jews and foiling Haman's plot. The Jews were allowed to fight back against the king’s soldiers, and triumphed after a fierce battle.”
Esther’s bravery teaches us about surviving within unjust systems that diminish the role of women and girls. By speaking truth to power, Esther achieved a greater measure of justice for her community. Her example provides women and men with an ancient blueprint for opposing oppression and pursuing peace.
*Story abridged from this site
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