Mask Making, Symbolism, and Tradition with Vera Wienfield

Masks have traditionally been used throughout the world for ritual and performance, celebration and mourning. They are visual representations that connect us to our ancestors and environments. Wearing a mask, we may embody and challenge what we are most afraid of. Sometimes they offer us protection, other times transformation. Masks can turn our world upside down, and often, they simply make us laugh.

The tradition of masquerade on Purim, the holiday on which Jews celebrate the story of Esther, can be traced back to Esther’s own disguised and revealed identity, which gave her the power to save her people from genocide.

In this workshop participants design and create their own masks using simple materials and techniques. These masks may disguise our faces but will reveal the inner strength we need to repair our world.

Image: Courtesy of Vera Wienfield