Purim: A Celebration of Stories and Connection

On Thursday 5 March, De Joodse Stad and VOX-POP are bringing a special tradition back to the heart of Amsterdam: Purim. Purim (Jewish Carnival) is a joyful festival of courage, reversals and hidden identities, celebrating the story of Queen Esther. Join us for an afternoon of storytelling, mask-making, drinks and food – and a chance to do a mitzvah by collecting essential items for De Regenbooggroep, rediscovering a piece of the city’s pre-war social life and sharing it in the present.

The Queen’s Tale

Purim, the Jewish Festival of Lots, commemorates how Queen Esther saved the Jewish people from destruction in 5th-century BCE Persia. It is a unique celebration within the tradition, centered around the courage of a woman as the story's heroine. Today, Purim is a joyful festival of "reversals." Often compared to carnival, it is a time to play with hidden identities, loudly drown out the name of the story’s villain (Haman) with noisemakers, and share food and drink. By celebrating this on 5 March, De Joodse Stad and VOX-POP bring a piece of pre-war Amsterdam’s vibrant social life back to the city center.

Programme

Students and staff are warmly invited to join us for:

• 16.30 - 16.45 Welcome and introduction on Purim by Julia van der Krieke
• 16.45 - 17.30 "Non-dogmatic rabbi" Naftalie Hershler shares the story of Esther
• 17.30 - 19.30 Creative activities, drinks and food:
  - Create your own mask
  - Perform a Mitzvah (good deed) by collecting essential items and make a gift for De Regenbooggroep.

What can you donate? We are collecting water bottles, sunglasses, caps, warm men’s clothing (such as coats), shoes, sleeping bags, working phones or laptops, and bicycles or bike parts. Or hygiene supplies, like body wash, deodorant, razors, shaving cream / gel, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, face day cream, lip balm/Vaseline and wet wipes.

Practical matters

Admission is free. To help us prepare the catering, please register in advance.
Snacks are kosher style.

This event is organised in collaboration with the Faculty’s Diversity Office and the Faculty of Humanities, aiming to create space for diverse cultural narratives within our academic community.