In Parshat Ki Tisa, the Jews, feeling lost and uncertain, create a false idol—grasping at something external instead of trusting what was already within them. In Megillat Esther, Esther hides her identity at first, believing it will protect her, only to find that stepping into her truth is what ultimately gives her power.

So many queer Jews know this struggle—being told to blend in, to hide, to become something we’re not in order to belong. Like in Shel Silverstein’s poem Masks, how many people spend their whole lives searching for those like them, only to miss each other because they’re too afraid to be seen themselves?

Both Purim and the Parsha teach us some powerful lessons:

👑 You don’t have to build something false to be worthy.

🎭 You don’t have to hide to be safe.

🌈 You don’t have to pass by yourself—or each other—any longer.

At JQY, we create spaces where masks aren’t required, where authenticity is treasured, and where no one has to search their whole life through to find belonging.

Let your “blue” show. Live your truth. There are more of us than you ever could have imagined.