PURIM!

One may ask the question of women’s obligation in hearing megilla. Surely since megillah is a positive time-bound mitzva woman do not need to hear it?

A possible answer is that women, specifically Esther, were involved in the miracle and thus they have an obligation to hear megilla just as men do. After all, it was with help of Esther that the Jewish nation was saved from Haman. However, this is not a great answer because in other events, such as the miracles that occurred in the desert, woman were also impacted and still woman have no obligation to sit in sukkot.

A far better answer is offered. Purim, as we know, is a festival that was created by our sages, as it is not mentioned anywhere in the Torah. There is a torah commandment that we should listen to the words of our Rabbi's. This means we have to honour the words of our Rabbi's, who are the teachers of Hashem’s torah. Therefore, when both women and men sit in shul and hear the megilla they are also fulfilling the torah commandment of honouring our Rabbi's.