March 8 is a Jewish Holiday

Everyone knows that March 8 - is International Women's Day. True, however celebrated only on the territory of the former Soviet Union. History of this holiday is accustomed to associate with Clara Zetkin, who has created a revolutionary party, consisting of women, to use the irresistible power of women in the struggle against the exploiters of the worker class. And although creation of women party was not a matter of one day, it was decided to choose a day that could be considered the birthday of the "woman of the proletariat." Selecting the date belonged to Clara Zetkin, who managed to link the birth of a new party, fighting against injustice to the history of her people (it is believed that Clara Zetkin was a Jew), namely, a page that talks about Esther.

Many centuries ago, Esther saved her people from a tyrant. The day is devoted to the annual and the most fun holiday of the Jewish people - Purim. Purim is celebrated at the turn from winter to spring. And the year (1911 - exactly 100 years ago) when it was decided to start celebrating "International Women's Day, the holiday of Purim fell on March 8. And although the day of Purim moves yearly, due to the fixed day in a Jewish calendar, however the date of March, 8 stuck as a holiday. Perhaps it was inconvenient to change the date every year, and it was not officially affiliated with a Purim itself, who new how proletariat would react on such a connection. By itself, the Feast of Purim is very unique. It does not apply to religious holidays as most of the holidays in Jewish calendar.



480 BC. After the end of the Babylonian captivity all Jews, everyone, could return to Jerusalem. But, living for centuries in Babylon, not all Jews did want to go back and leave their live positions for ever for historic homeland. Thousands of Jews were living in the cities of the Persian Empire and, moreover, not in the position of slave.



The situation eventually starts to surprise Persians. Looking around, they cease to understand: who won and who got conquered. The Persians conquered Jerusalem, but the Jews captured Babylon. The Persian Minister of Defense, General Aman went to the king and shared his observations. King had a strong reaction - to exterminate all Jews.

About the Kings decision learns his wife, the Queen Esther, (she hid from her husband her origin (she was Jewish)), however she did not directly ask the king for mercy, and decided to use his love to her as a shield to her people. At a time when the king was under the influence of her irresistible charms, she demanded from him a promise that he would destroy all the enemies who forced upon her people. And King, without too much thought agreeing to all these demands, then he was surprised to find that he has agreed to destroy all the enemies him hated Jews ...



As a result, day 13 of Adar (the month of the Jewish calendar, falls on the end of February - early March) to all cities of the empire comes the king's decree concerning the pogroms. But being prepared, all to beat the Jews. And the messengers brought a completely different ordinance. It turned out that the king allowed the Esther and her cousin Mordecai, and caregiver to make a decree on the forthcoming pogroms.



"And the scribe was summoned and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the rulers of one hundred and twenty seven provinces of the king's name - that the king allows the Jews were in every city to gather themselves together and to defend their lives, destroy, kill and destroy all the power of the people and province that would assault them, children and wives, their riches and plunder "(Esf. 8,8-11). And within two days, "all the rulers of the provinces and the satraps, and officers of the king, helped the Jews. And the Jews smote all their enemies, and destroyed, and acted with the enemy on their own" (Esf. 9,3-5).



Haman was hanged, with ten of his children. The fate of the Persian Empire was sealed. And in honor of this victory Jews began to honor and celebrate this day every year. Among the Talmudic wise men, "there is even the view that when all the books of the prophets will be forgotten, the book of Esther still not be forgotten, and the Feast of Purim will not cease to exist."



Perhaps, this Jewish version of the origin of the Women’s day on March 8 has a right to exist. But the important thing is that today we celebrate the Day as the beginning of spring, as a day of celebrating the woman, her beauty, her wisdom and all that is identified with femininity.