Israel’s Education Ministry is warning of “panic-inducing costumes” ahead of next month’s Purim holiday as the country continues to grapple with the Hamas war that began on Oct. 7.
According to the ministry, the directive issued to schools and kindergartens comes “in the shadow of the war and in accordance with the security reality and the characteristics of the current period.”
Administrators and teachers are recommended to sit down with students and parents to discuss “how to properly celebrate the holiday” with the recognition of the “worry or sadness they experience.”
Additionally, the guidelines state that “care must be taken to avoid arriving in costumes that may cause fear, panic, or injury to another.”
In the coming days, educational teams will discuss with students the costumes they intend to wear, “with the aim of considering together with them about how to choose a costume that will give them a creative and joyful personal expression, without endangering the costume-wearers and their environment. Also, the students are required to show sensitivity and personal responsibility in choosing the costume, so as not to harm the other.”
The wartime mood has put a damper on preparations for the usually joyful holiday celebrating the biblical story of the Jewish Queen Esther saving the Jewish people from Haman, the evil vizier of the Persian King Achashverosh. It takes place from sunset on March 23 until sunset on March 24.
Many municipalities across Israel have decided to cancel or alter traditional events, including Holon nixing the popular Adloyada parade.
An exception is Jerusalem, which plans on celebrating Purim as usual, including the party on Nissim Becher Street in the Nachalot neighborhood and dressing famous buildings in monster costumes. Jerusalem is also looking at the possibility of holding an Adloyada parade for the first time since 1957.
“The Jerusalem municipality decided to hold the events out of a desire to be happy, and to show that the capital of Israel continues to live and be happy even in difficult times,” Ynet reported.
