A Diversity Message From Neil Meltzer - March 2020
In March, we recognize the achievement and contributions of women with National Women's History Month. 
The first Women's History Week was held in 1978 in California when the Sonoma school district held the week to raise awareness of women's important role in shaping our country. Similar celebrations spread across the country until, in 1980, the National Women's History Project formed and successfully lobbied the government to designate Women's History Week to coincide with International Women's Day on March 8. Seven years later, Congress officially declared March as National Women's History Month in perpetuity.
The evening of March 9 marks the beginning of the Jewish holiday, Purim, which ends at sunset on March 10. The holiday commemorates a time when the Jewish people were saved from extermination in ancient Persia. According to the story of Purim, Haman, a high-ranking adviser to King Ahasuerus, devised a plot to kill all Jews after Mordecai, a Jewish leader, refused to bow to him. To save the Jewish people, Mordecai persuaded his cousin Queen Esther, a beautiful Jewish woman, to tell the king about the plot. Esther had initially disguised her Jewish identity from the king, but despite the dangerous consequences for herself, she told him and persuaded the king to have Haman hanged.
In celebration of this day of deliverance, Jewish traditions include holding feasts, participating in carnivals, wearing costumes and giving gifts or donating to charity.
Beginning on March 9 and ending March 10, many also will recognize spring's arrival with the two-day Hindu festival Holi. Commonly known as the Festival of Colors, Holi celebrates fertility, color, love and the triumph of good over evil. It begins with Holika Dahan (on March 9) when people gather in front of a large bonfire that is lit to burn out evil spirits. The next day, on Rangwali Holi (March 10), a boisterous celebration takes place with people throwing handfuls of colored powders at one another while getting drenched in water.
Green will be the color of the day for many on March 17 in recognition of St. Patrick's Day. The day commemorates the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and is a global celebration of the Irish culture. It also coincides with March being Irish-American Heritage Month in America. To honor the day, many will wear green attire, shamrocks and green accessories of all kinds. Other traditions include attending church service, watching parades and enjoying feasts of Irish fare.
March 19 is the Pagan holiday of Ostara, the spring equinox. During this time the amount of daylight and night are nearly equal. Ostara is one of the four lesser Wiccan holidays and is recognized as a season of balance and renewal.
Thank you for the commitment you make every day to Care Bravely and live our LifeBridge Health values. Our Respect value is crucial to promoting both Diversity and Inclusion. There continues to be divisive dialogue throughout the country; and while we can't control what happens outside of LifeBridge Health, inside of LifeBridge Health we celebrate both what makes us diverse and unique, and what makes us the same-our shared purpose of caring for our communities together.
The first Women's History Week was held in 1978 in California when the Sonoma school district held the week to raise awareness of women's important role in shaping our country. Similar celebrations spread across the country until, in 1980, the National Women's History Project formed and successfully lobbied the government to designate Women's History Week to coincide with International Women's Day on March 8. Seven years later, Congress officially declared March as National Women's History Month in perpetuity.
The evening of March 9 marks the beginning of the Jewish holiday, Purim, which ends at sunset on March 10. The holiday commemorates a time when the Jewish people were saved from extermination in ancient Persia. According to the story of Purim, Haman, a high-ranking adviser to King Ahasuerus, devised a plot to kill all Jews after Mordecai, a Jewish leader, refused to bow to him. To save the Jewish people, Mordecai persuaded his cousin Queen Esther, a beautiful Jewish woman, to tell the king about the plot. Esther had initially disguised her Jewish identity from the king, but despite the dangerous consequences for herself, she told him and persuaded the king to have Haman hanged.
In celebration of this day of deliverance, Jewish traditions include holding feasts, participating in carnivals, wearing costumes and giving gifts or donating to charity.
Beginning on March 9 and ending March 10, many also will recognize spring's arrival with the two-day Hindu festival Holi. Commonly known as the Festival of Colors, Holi celebrates fertility, color, love and the triumph of good over evil. It begins with Holika Dahan (on March 9) when people gather in front of a large bonfire that is lit to burn out evil spirits. The next day, on Rangwali Holi (March 10), a boisterous celebration takes place with people throwing handfuls of colored powders at one another while getting drenched in water.
Green will be the color of the day for many on March 17 in recognition of St. Patrick's Day. The day commemorates the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and is a global celebration of the Irish culture. It also coincides with March being Irish-American Heritage Month in America. To honor the day, many will wear green attire, shamrocks and green accessories of all kinds. Other traditions include attending church service, watching parades and enjoying feasts of Irish fare.
March 19 is the Pagan holiday of Ostara, the spring equinox. During this time the amount of daylight and night are nearly equal. Ostara is one of the four lesser Wiccan holidays and is recognized as a season of balance and renewal.
Thank you for the commitment you make every day to Care Bravely and live our LifeBridge Health values. Our Respect value is crucial to promoting both Diversity and Inclusion. There continues to be divisive dialogue throughout the country; and while we can't control what happens outside of LifeBridge Health, inside of LifeBridge Health we celebrate both what makes us diverse and unique, and what makes us the same-our shared purpose of caring for our communities together.