An Israeli newspaper reported that the Israeli Ministry of Education has outlined guidelines that educational staff must follow when celebrating the holiday known as Purim next month, including a ban on costumes that provoke fear or cause psychological harm. In a report titled "Disguises of Sinwar Are Prohibited," referring to the head of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) Yahya Sinwar, the Israeli website "Walla" transmitted a directive from the ministry emphasizing that the celebrations should take place within an educational framework.
The ministry has urged against students and children dressing in outfits that cause terror or fear or that may hurt feelings, taking into account the security situation and the nature of the current phase. The ministry's instructions encourage staff to promote ways for children to celebrate the holiday "in a manner suitable for them," which does not evoke feelings of anxiety or sadness or harm other celebrants.
Additionally, the ministry recommended having discussions with children in the coming days to assist them in choosing their costumes in a way that "allows them to express themselves happily and creatively without threatening other celebrants or their surroundings." According to the directives, anyone arriving at school or kindergarten in a costume that provokes threat or fear or hurts the feelings of others will be required to change their disguise in coordination with their parents.
