Purim is a festival that can be experienced in many different ways at many different depths. Is it a children’s festival, full of fun, costumes and noise? A complex historical tale of a small minority struggling to survive within a vast empire? A feminine story of finding one’s voice, courage and speaking truth to power? Or perhaps a celebration of earthly miracles, a reminder to find joy despite all odds?

Each year, we have the opportunity to revisit, reinterpret and highlight different aspects of the Purim story. Some years, we easily surrender to the fun and games; other times, in a world that feels unstable, we approach it with a different lens.

This year, I have chosen to focus on two main themes:

The Joy of Purim as an act of resistance and a source of resilience—both for individuals and communities.

The Heroines of Purim as beacons of strength and inspiration.

This resource collection brings together diverse Jewish and Israeli voices, offering perspectives from different times and contexts. The first section explores the mitzvah of joy in its many dimensions. The second looks at leadership in the Megillah, reflected in the figures of Vashti and Esther. Accompanying these texts are suggested questions to help foster meaningful discussion, interesting and challenging conversations.

I invite you to engage with this collection as an opportunity to add new and timely relevance to an ancient story. I also hope that it will serve as permission: to seek joy and find Simcha within ourselves, our families and friends, our communities, and Am Yisrael.

May this Purim fill our hearts and give us meaning for the days to come, knowing that we walk in the footsteps of a long line of people who, throughout history, have faced trials and adversity with humor, fun, laughter (and a good costume!), in both good days and bad.

Yours,

Rabbi Leora Ezrachi-Vered