Community Organizations Appeal to Families Celebrating Purim: Respect Thy Neighbor

A united group of multiple Jewish organizations released a statement on Wednesday calling on the community to be sensitive to our neighbors on Purim as people celebrate by dressing up and enjoying the joyous day.

The joint letter asks the community to “not use costumes that involve blackface” as the costume is seen as “painful to many in our community and our neighbors, especially in the African American community.”

Hanging Haman, is another issue the group asks the community to refrain from participating in, as “the KKK and other racist groups, who murdered and lynched minorities, used a noose or a hanging doll to threaten and intimidate.”

The Jewish groups include Agudath Israel, the Anti-Defamation League, UJO, Oizrim Jewish Council, the VAAD and BPJCC. 

“Please take time to explain the severity of these practices to your children and the harm even one such incident could generate. Let’s celebrate a joyful Purim, without inflicting pain upon our community and neighbors.”

“This is a wonderful way of generating a Kiddush Hashem on Purim,” the letter says.