Bloggist deafeningchameleon, who lives in Manhattan, shares her experience of attending a Purim service at a local synagogue. She says some people refer to Purim as “Jewish Halloween” due to the fact that people dress up in costumes.

Never before, she says, did she feel so welcome at the temple. “I am so blessed to live in a city where I can actively participate in a Jewish community that includes us deAfies! This temple is conservative and I consider myself a reform Jew but I could see myself honoring more customs as time goes by.”