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״When Adar Begins we increase our Joy״ - ״משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה״

Jewish tradition recognizes that humor plays an important role in our lives.

In this Value Spark, we will explore the value of Humor. What does laughter symbolize, what is particular about Jewish Humor, and what is the dark side of humor?

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The Dark Side of Humor

By definition, the humor that creates feelings of belonging and inclusion for some can also be at the expense of others. Just as it has the potential to unite, it can also divide. Humor can be mean and derisive, picking on those who are different, establishing who is inside the group and who is not and perpetuating stereotypes.

We laugh with people to belong, and at others to exclude.

We've each been the brunt of a poor joke. In particularly difficult situations, all eyes may have been on you, mouths agape and fingers pointed. In more uncomfortable situations, you may have been in the company of people targeting individuals or groups, and while they didn't necessarily target you, you were very much present in the moment.

Standing up to inappropriate humor is not simple, which is especially true when a bystander can easily get away with letting a joke pass. Engaging requires courage and vulnerability, and sets one at risk of social ostracism. While the benefits are clear, how much should one be willing to risk?

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By definition, the humor that creates feelings of belonging and inclusion for some can also be at the expense of others. Just as it has the potential to unite, it can also divide. Humor can be mean and derisive, picking on those who are different, establishing who is inside the group and who is not and perpetuating stereotypes.

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Dress for Success: A Paper Doll Gratitude Game

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Dress for Success: A Paper Doll Gratitude Game

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The clothing we wear can serve different purposes and functions. The idea of using clothing as a form of communication and as a means for accomplishing an end is quite prominent in the book of Esther, which we read on Purim.

In this activity, through playing with paper dolls, we explore the various ways and reasons we use clothing and show gratitude for them.

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The clothing we wear can serve different purposes and functions. The most basic, practical function is to clothe our body in a way that is appropriate to the weather or activity we currently face. We wear sweaters, coats, hats, and mittens to keep us warm on a cold day; we wear sports clothes to move sweat away from our body during a workout. Clothing is also used as a form of expression and communication - an opportunity to share our individuality, personal tastes, and preferences. Alternatively, clothing may be used to eliminate personal identity and instead express belonging to a certain group or framework; uniforms enhance uniformity in this way. Clothing can also serve as a means to accomplish a goal; we may choose to dress in a certain fashion to project a certain image, for example to help us get the job we are interviewing for.

The idea of using clothing as a form of communication and as a means for accomplishing an end is quite prominent in the book of Esther, which we read on Purim.

When Mordecai first hears of the evil decree against the Jews, we are told that "Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes , and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry" (Esther 4:1). When Esther is about to approach the king for the first time and plea for her people, it says: "Now it came to pass... that Esther wore royalty , and stood in the inner court of the king's house..." (Esther 5:1). And finally, when the cards have turned, toward the end of the story, we hear in great detail of Mordecai's clothing: "And Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple ; and the city of Shushan shouted and was glad" (Esther 8:15).

In this activity, through playing with paper dolls, we explore the various ways and reasons we use clothing and show gratitude for them. The game may be played with different ages and levels. There are a few options of how to play followed by prompt questions below, which can be chosen based on the ages and experiences of your players. For all versions, first download and print both the dolls and the clothing templates.

For playing with young children: The adult describes a situation or scenario. The child needs to choose the appropriate clothing they would want to wear for that situation. They can decorate or color in the clothing to make it similar to something they own or they wish they owned.

What clothing are you glad to have for this situation?

How do you feel about the fact that you have it, while others might not?

For playing with older children and adults: Dress your dolls in two different situations, one where you can completely choose and design the clothing and one where the doll must adhere to a dress code because of a framework they belong to - for example, a school, a profession, or a team. Color in the clothing to address each of these types of situations.

Think of a scenario in which you were grateful to be able to choose your own clothing, and share how it served as a way to express yourself or to communicate with others.

Think of a scenario in which you or someone you know dressed according to a dress code or had a uniform they had to wear. What feelings of gratitude does such a uniformity evoke?

For playing with adults: Envision a scenario where you consciously "dressed for the occasion" or "dressed for success," where you used your clothing as a means for accomplishing a goal, like Esther or Mordecai did in the Purim story. Dress your dolls accordingly.

What clothing are you grateful to own which have helped you accomplish other goals?

Share how you used the clothes in various scenarios and whom or what you are grateful for in enabling that.

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Dress for Success: A Paper Doll Gratitude Game - Days of Gratitude

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Day 2 | Recognize Human Need February | Adar Perfect for Kids Dress for Success: A Paper Doll Gratitude Game The clothing we wear can serve different purposes and functions. The most basic, practical function is to clothe our body in a way that is appropriate to the weather or activity we currently face.

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Flip Your Purim: Traditions for Action with Repair the World

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Flip Your Purim: Traditions for Action with Repair the World

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Purim has a rich set of traditions, and while we create time for immense joy and celebration, we are also obligated to acknowledge that there is still brokenness in the world. The very same verse in the Book of Esther that instructs us to feast and send gifts of food to our friends also requires us to give to those in need.

"At Repair the World, we believe that helping others fulfill their needs can increase our own happiness and sense of gratitude while also creating a more just world. In order to meet those two goals, we need to make sure that we are doing this service in an intentional and thoughtful way." > https://gratitudedays.com/edition-3/day-3/activity-3/

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Check out Days of Gratitude’s Purim resources, which include ideas for guiding learners toward acknowledging and giving thanks for our privileges, abilities, and liberties; paying attention to the roles that abundance and scarcity play in our lives; and balancing our needs with those of others.

Our activities are inspired by some of the deeper messages of the upcoming festival of Purim. We invite you to express your gratitude for the ways in which your needs are met. While doing so, try to notice the unmet needs of those less fortunate than you, and consider how you might respond to them.

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January | Shevat, 14-16 February, 2021, Purim Recognize Human Need Express gratitude for what you have. Respond to what others don't. To live a life grounded in Hakarat Hatov, gratitude, we must recognize - and act upon - the abundance and scarcity within us and around us.