In a review of the book Vince Piro writes: “Back in 1911,
the Triangle Waist Company employed hundreds who sewed blouses (or shirtwaists)
in its 10 story factory located in Manhattan. Most of these employees were
immigrant women, of which 40 percent were Italian and about 60 percent were Eastern
European Jews.”
Hamantaschen, the favorite cookie for Purim |
But if ever there was a first Women’s Day it had to be the
one more than two thousand years ago on the 14th day in the Hebrew
month of Adar, the day that marks the feast of Purim. The hero of the story is
not a man.
She’s a woman and her name is Esther. Rebbetzin Tzipporah
Heller writes about Esther’s ordinary and humble beginnings: “Her father had died while her mother was
pregnant with Esther; her mother died at her birth. Thus, she came into this
world with the gaping wound of belonging to no one.”
Fresco of Queen Esther by Andrea del Castagno |
As Esther grew into girlhood, the Jews of Persia descended
into despair. King Achashverosh assumed power and, aided by his wicked
henchman, Haman, systematically began to repress the Jews. Rebbetzin Heller
reminds us that the root for the Hebrew word “ester” is “saiter,”
which means “concealment.” Our Esther at first concealed her Jewish identity
but later broke through a self-imposed and society-imposed barrier to reveal
her background. Esther spoke truth to power and with that act she pierced
through the armor of public hatred and personal denial which defined her no
more.
A Google search of the topic tells us that International
Women’s Day is a way to recount the stories of ordinary women who made history.
One site takes us back to ancient Greece where Lysistrata organized what was
probably the world’s first strike. She encouraged women to withhold sex from
men who made war. From the women of the French Revolution who stormed
Versailles calling for “liberty, equality and fraternity,” to the bravery of
Michela Marciano whose life began in the ashes of a tiny Italian village at the
foot of Mount Vesuvius and ended in the ashes of the Triangle fire,
International Women’s Day in the month of March remembers them all.
Here in Italy we celebrate our International Woman’s Day,
“La Festa della Donna,” on March 8 when it is customary to give sprigs of
bright yellow mimosa to every woman you know. Men give mimosa to women but
maybe more important, women present the flower to one to another.
Mimosa blossoms |
Why mimosa? Romans say that the mimosa signifies
sensitivity, a trait that propels many women to stand strong for their beliefs.
Others say that the mimosa represents “concealed love,” the love that Esther
had for her people that led her to make her awesome declaration.
And then there is the memory of the few young girls who
survived the Triangle fire. On that fateful day some recall seeing wild mimosa
blooming in the vacant lot adjacent to the factory. For nearly 150 beautiful,
vibrant and determined Italian and Jewish women the ordinary mimosa was the
last flower they ever saw. It makes me think that if Esther were here today she
would wear mimosa in her hair.