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Resource Category: Purim

Purim is a holiday about masks. We all wear masks every day, but the holiday of Purim encourages us to look past them and reveal our true selves to the world. We hope these Purim activities and resources, designed to help you connect with and nurture your truest self, will let you do that!

Mental Health Mishloach Manot

By Max Hollander | We don’t only preserve community by taking care of our most unfortunate community members when they need us; we do so by also showing the people in our lives we care about them even when they don’t need us. We can’t just ensure the poorest among us don't fall through the cracks; we must also strive to ensure those closest to us don't drift away. This balance between matanot l'evyonim (gifts to the poor) and mishloach manot (gifts to our friends) is what nurtures community, and community is what nurtures us in the aftermath of intense challenges and trauma.
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V’NAHAFOCH HU: A Guide to Throwing an Inclusive Purim Party

In this resource, we seek to address how we can talk about Purim and Purim celebrations in an inclusive way that allows everyone to celebrate safely and doesn’t call anyone out for how they choose to celebrate? Included are an alternative reading of the Mitzvah of Intoxication on Purim, a guide to how to promote your event, and a guide to how to make your spaces safer for those experiencing alcohol and substance addiction.
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V’NAHAFOCH HU: Turn it Upside Down – An Alternative Reading to the Mitzvah of Intoxication on Purim

From Arielle Krule and the T’shuvah Center Team | There is an oft-used statement from the Talmud on Purim that “a person is obligated to become intoxicated on Purim until they do not know the difference between the curse of Haman and righteousness of Mordechai.” This statement has been used as the guiding principle for what Purim celebrations have comprised in the Jewish community, but that statement contains a deeper meaning, hidden right beneath the surface.
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What Connects Moses and Esther? Imposter Syndrome

Masks are a major part of the celebration of Purim — but also the way we operate in the world. Depending on the social setting, masks are the things we hide behind to conceal our true selves for fear of rejection. Often, the use of masks in public spaces is out of an insecurity that deep down, we aren’t who people think we are — otherwise known as imposter syndrome.
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Masks that Reveal, Masks that Conceal

We make much of masks at this holiday. Does your mask cover up the real “you,” or does it reveal who you secretly would like to be — or even who you really are? Purim provides a wonderful occasion to explore my self and my masks.
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Rejoicing When You Can’t Rejoice

By Rabbi Sandra Cohen | How do you rejoice when you can’t rejoice? By accepting your experience and being gentle with yourself. You can use the joy around you to help you be kind to yourself. Allow for the possibility that you may eventually feel better, just not today. And that, my friends, will let joy in. Forgive yourself. After all you, have done nothing wrong.
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7 Self-Care Routines for Purim

On Purim, one is instructed to wear costumes to mask their identity from others –– like Esther hiding her religious identity from King Ahasverus. Balancing different parts of ourselves for different circumstances, however, is a fact of life - but it can be exhausting. That is why it is necessary that we take the time to perform self-care when we have the chance, so why not try some fun, holiday themed self-care routines!
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