Be Happy, It is Adar. There are things to be happy about this month. Purim comes in the middle to remind us that the Jewish people survived, not only Haman’s evil plots but until now. As I recently wrote, it is not enough to survive but we need to thrive. What does that mean, for each of us personally and for us as a people?

Yesterday the Violence Against Women Act passed the Senate. This too, on the eve of Purim is reason to celebrate. But our work as women, for women is not yet done. This bill urgently needs to pass the House of Representatives. One of my favorite parts of the Book of Esther is when Mordechai chides her. “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the may arise from another place… And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” This prodding gives her the courage to find her voice and speak up. We need to make sure this bill passes and as President Obama urged last night in his State of the Union, we need to make sure that women are paid the same as men. Our voices, like Esther’s make a difference.

Rosh Hodesh Adar was celebrated in Jerusalem too, by the Women of the Wall, a group I have supported since they were founded in 1983. They believe that women have the right to pray at the wall, that women’s voices can be heard. There are some Orthodox (men) who believe differently. For the last several years things have gotten increasingly tense. Women have been arrested. Their crimes? Wearing a talit, Singing the Sh’ma. Disturbing the peace. Really? I have read all of the halacha on both those issues. While not required to wear a talit, it is not forbidden either. That could be subject for a whole entire separate blog.

I was encouraged this month. The paratroopers who liberated the Wall in 1967 would be attending. I stayed up to midnight to see what would happen. There was a larger crowd than usual, perhaps because of the coverage in Ha’aretz. Perhaps because it was Rosh Hodesh Adar…where our heroine speaks up against injustice.

When I got up, the first email I read was from Anat Hoffman, executive director of the Israeli Religious Action Center and the spokesperson of Women of the Wall. Ten women were arrested including Anat, Rabbi Susan Silverman, two Conservative rabbis slated to meet with MK Natan Sharansky, a Reform rabbinical student and others. I had friends who were there.

Again, our voices can and will make a difference. We need to be more like Esther. Then will we not only survive but thrive. There is much to be happy about this month. Last night I made a beaded gragger bracelet with the women of our sisterhood. It jingles. It jangles. It says Be Happy. Hadassah and Joy. I will wear it on Purim to remind me that I have a voice. And still so much more work to be done. Ours is not to finish the task, neither are we free to ignore it. How will your voice be heard? How will you make a difference this month?