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Question
I noticed more orthodox Jews in America do not participate in Halloween? Is there a reason that American Jews should not celebrate Halloween?
Answer
The first real question is do American Jews celebrate Halloween - and they do, whether they are permitted to do so or not, by their Rabbi, day school or Judaism. They do as long as their parents permit it - and today often children only go out
trick-and-treating when they are accompanied by adults.
Second question is whether the trick-or-treating or even a party with a
Halloween theme has a religious overtone such that Jews ought to stay far,
far away. Realistically, almost every Halloween "celebration" with which I
am familiar has no religious characteristics or qualities. But, is it
necessary to have a party with a Halloween theme?
Can one live without these ghosts, goblins, etc. even if they are
fictional? I think so, especially in a world that is far too obsessed with
divine beings and spirits in addition to God. As a Jew, there is but one
God, unique in that oneness. There is no family on high, no semi-spirits,
no semi-divine figures and no magic - period. Well, there goes Halloween
for me as a Jew.
This is often a geographical issue. The more rural, the less Jewish, the
more there are parties and the like. One also has to remember that UNICEF
still urges children to go out and collect coins on trick-or-treat night.
I would not ever let a child today go out house to house. The night is
dangerous; one doesn't know today who is also driving about and one can't
keep an eye always on so many children. And, what people give out can be
tref, truly noxious because of diseased minds and sick souls who try and
hurt children, and lastly that much candy and such is just plain unhealthy.
So, I wouldn't.
Lastly, there are formal churches and covens, including the Catholic
Church, I have heard, who do have Halloween related "religious
celebrations" recalling "all hallows eve" or the world of witches and
spirits for their respective congregants. In this case, clearly they are
religious in nature and not Jewish, and thus Jewish parents should heed
Rabbis and not permit their children to participate.
Best
Wishes,
Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner
Foundation for Family Education (FFFE)
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