More than two thousand years ago, in the kingdom of Persia—modern-day Iran—a young Jewish woman found herself in a palace she did not choose, in a position she did not seek, facing a moment that would define history.

And yet, she changed the fate of her people.

When her adoptive father Mordechai challenged her—“Who knows if you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”—Esther understood that leadership is not about comfort. It is about responsibility. She risked her life by approaching the king uninvited. She revealed her identity. She spoke truth at the very heart of power.

Her courage echoes across centuries.

Nowhere is that courage more visible today than among the women of Iran.

In the very land where Esther once stood in the corridors of empire, women are again standing at the gates of power. They remove their hijabs in protest. They march in the streets despite imprisonment and brutality. They demand dignity, equality, and freedom in the face of immense repression.

I have had the privilege of knowing extraordinary Iranian women in the diaspora who continue this legacy of courage. These non-Jewish women are not afraid to collaborate with Israeli women despite the risk of being blacklisted or harassed online and within their own communities.

Through the Women Champions for Change (WCC) network and the Abraham Women’s Alliance (AWA), two leaders stand out in their unwavering commitment to amplify the voices of the people of Iran and the wider MENA region.

Shirin Taber, an........

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