Why Do We Dress Up on Purim? Because Jacob Disguised Himself as Esau

The ancient custom of wearing costumes on the approaching Purim holiday is an ancient tradition mentioned in halachic sources. Although in our time it is mainly Jewish children who continue the custom of dressing up on Purim, in previous generations even Torah scholars personally observed this custom during the Purim holiday.

The Talmud in Tractate Shabbat (page 72) states: "Rava bar Huna said Parmei", and Rashi explained: "A mask tied on the face to frighten young children" and the word Parmei alludes to Purim, which provides a basis for the custom of wearing costumes on Purim.

There is a story about Rabbi Moshe Isserles (the Rema) of blessed memory, who passed away at age 33 on the 33rd day of the Omer, in the year 5333, and wrote 33 books. The eulogizer, who showered him with praise, was struggling to find one more virtue to complete the count of 33 praises, until someone came forward and said that it was the Rema's custom to disguise himself in poor people's clothes on Purim, ask for water to wash his hands, and urge the community to pray the evening prayer at the end of Purim lest they forget while busy with their festive meals. This became the 33rd praise of the Rema.

Reason for the Costume Custom

The authorities have provided several reasons for the custom of wearing costumes on Purim. One reason is that several episodes in the war between Israel and Amalek and in the story of Queen Esther and Mordechai the Jew involved various disguises, so we too dress up on Purim. For example, Amalek's hatred for Israel came from his great-grandfather Esau, who hated Jacob for disguising himself as Esau to receive the blessings. Now we dress up again to show that this was not a sin, but rather that we are worthy to inherit Esau's portion, and even if Jacob wears Esau's clothes, he too shall be blessed. We also find in the book Eliyahu Rabbah (Section 696) that Vashti's downfall also came through a 'disguise', as the angel Gabriel gave her a tail so she would refuse to appear before Ahasuerus. Similarly, Queen Esther, when taken to Ahasuerus's palace, did not reveal her people or birthplace and 'disguised' herself as a gentile.

Girls Dressed as Boys and Vice Versa

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef of blessed memory (Responsa Yechaveh Da'at 50) wrote to be careful not to dress boys in girls' clothing, and vice versa, because of the mitzvah of education, as there is a prohibition of "a man shall not wear a woman's garment."

However, for very young children who have not yet reached the age of education, the book 'Orchot Rabbeinu' mentions that the Steipler Gaon said this could be permitted until the age of education, and only at the age of education should one be strict about this.

Negative Costumes

The book 'Orchot Rabbeinu' relates that the Steipler Gaon told how in the yeshiva where he studied, they held a play every year on Purim, and students would dress up as Ahasuerus, Mordechai, and Haman. Invariably, the student who dressed as Haman that year would not succeed in his studies and would leave the yeshiva.

Nevertheless, when a certain rabbi once published a letter stating that it is forbidden on Purim to dress up as a clown, because this character was invented by gentiles for their days of revelry and its entire essence is frivolity and emptiness, the Steipler Gaon responded: It is permitted to dress up as a clown, and this has been the practice throughout the generations.

Rabbi Shai Amar is a rabbi in Hidabroot's Halacha department

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