When 20,000 Jewish Women Had a Queen Esther Moment

March is Women’s History Month — and along with Purim on the Jewish calendar — what better time could there be to commemorate a moment when 20,000 young immigrant Jewish women took to the streets in a courageous pursuit of fair and equitable treatment? The 1909 “Uprising of 20,000,” as it became known, was then the largest strike to date in American history.  What gave these poor, Yiddish-speaking teenagers and young adults the audacious tenacity to speak truth to power? What impact did raising their voices and acting in solidarity have on those who opposed them and on the American labor union movement? In a previous era of “ideological ferment and economic struggles,” as described in the Jewish Women’s Archive, this true story can uplift and inspire us today.

The Philosophy Minyan is a monthly lunchtime series on Zoom. All are welcome to join in an interactive and thought-provoking exploration of topics at the intersection of philosophy, Jewish thought and contemporary issues. No advance reading is required and participants will receive online access to all the class materials following each session.

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