I know, it’s a Jewish school. Still. Everyone has been talking about Halloween for the past month, so we might as well talk about it. Even if Halloween is technically a non Jewish holiday.
Let’s be real. Halloween is technically prohibited in Jewish law. It states in the Torah that there shall be no Jewish participation in non-Jewish holidays. Because of this, many Jewish families will not participate in Halloween and instead will wait for Purim. After all, the concept of Halloween isn’t exactly the most wholesome thing out there. Kids dress in scary costumes and knock on random people’s door to demand candy that’s probably not even Kosher.
That being said, Halloween has almost all religious values in recent years. Very few people remember that the holiday used to be honoring all saints. Nowadays, it’s just a fun way to eat lots of candy and see your neighbors. Also, it’s a mitzvah, a good deed, to give food to others. By handing out candy, you are doing a mitzvah.
Throughout history Jews have always wanted to fit into society. “Dina Malchuta Dina”, the law of the land is the law for the Jew, certainly comes into play here. By participating in the fun activities, we are participating in society. Consider Thanksgiving, started by Puritans. Are we not going to celebrate the country we live in just because the original celebration was not created by our own people?
In conclusion, I believe it’s okay for Jews to celebrate Halloween. Even if the concept was not Jewish, it’s a fun way to celebrate with your neighbors. You can do a Mitzvah by giving food, even if it is not to people in need. So throw on a costume and have some fun!
-HS