Why Jewish participation in Halloween celebrations is prohibited. (food)
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I don't understand why Jews are kowtowing to Catholic anti-Pagan propaganda.
The entire premise of the pre-Christian Celtic holiday, Samhain, having the slightest thing to do with Satan (a god foreign to the ancient Celts) is simply false.
Now, it is a holiday with customs rooted in heathen European beliefs (albeit extremely tenuously, in fact I would say that the Western Christmas is far more chock full of Heathen significance) and if that is inconsistent with raising a child as a good Jew, then fair enough, but to use old Catholic chestnuts (Pagans worship Satan!!) to invalidate a popular children's holiday seems just weird.
I don't understand why Jews are kowtowing to Catholic anti-Pagan propaganda.
The entire premise of the pre-Christian Celtic holiday, Samhain, having the slightest thing to do with Satan (a god foreign to the ancient Celts) is simply false.
Now, it is a holiday with customs rooted in heathen European beliefs (albeit extremely tenuously, in fact I would say that the Western Christmas is far more chock full of Heathen significance) and if that is inconsistent with raising a child as a good Jew, then fair enough, but to use old Catholic chestnuts (Pagans worship Satan!!) to invalidate a popular children's holiday seems just weird.
All Jews are not "kowtowing" , and many Jewish kids dressed up in costumes and went out to get candy.
The Orthodox Jewish community that I used to be a part of (recently disaffiliated...but lived Orthodox for 7 years) had about 70% of the synagogue members giving out candy for Halloween. Our rabbi never said anything one way or the other about it (he himself didn't give out...because he was in an apartment building; but he may have years ago).
The idea of Jews getting dressed up and going around collecting candy is a bit silly and redundant; since there is the Jewish holiday of Purim that has a very similar premise (dressing up...getting candy...although not from door-to-door, but through gift baskets).
The idea of Jews getting dressed up and going around collecting candy is a bit silly and redundant; since there is the Jewish holiday of Purim that has a very similar premise (dressing up...getting candy...although not from door-to-door, but through gift baskets).
Big exception: rather than going door-to-door seeking candy, on Purim Jews go door-to-door to delivering Mishloach Manot (=baskets of food and sweets).
Big exception: rather than going door-to-door seeking candy, on Purim Jews go door-to-door to delivering Mishloach Manot (=baskets of food and sweets).
That makes sense. Very similar to what we do on Eid Fitr.
Where I live Walter, getting suburban kids to walk around outdoors at night is a nes gadol. There is no halacha against doing so, or asking for candy. or dressing up even on a day other than purim. If you dont do so to honor pagan gods or "all saints" but consider it a "fall festival" and you dont dress up in a way that implies belief in non-Jewish attitudes toward the dead, I think its compatible with a mekulah approach to minhag ha goyim. Its NOT the optimal thing to do - but halloween has far less manifest non - Jewish content than even a relatively secularized christmas. While I think most observant C Jews dont do halloween trick or treating - I think for the many less observant C Jews who do, this is a borderline aveirah - like eating veggie foods from a non-vegetarian treif restaurant - not like eating pork.
Of course when halloween falls on shabbat thats a different story.
its a lot easier to find costumes in October, even if you WON'T wear them till Purim (for those who make their own, mazel tov)
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