Jews and Halloween
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The relationship between Jews and Halloween is complicated, due to the Christian and Pagan roots of Halloween. Many Jews in Western countries celebrate Halloween as a secular holiday. However, many Jews do not celebrate Halloween for religious or cultural reasons. Orthodox Jews typically do not celebrate Halloween, but liberal denominations of Judaism such as the Reform movement permit celebrating the holiday. The Jewish holiday of Purim has often been compared to Halloween, due to the wearing of costumes during the holiday. Halloween is also a day that some Jews, especially visibly Jewish ones such as Orthodox Jews, may associate with antisemitic harassment and violence.[1][2]
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Many American Jews celebrate Halloween, disconnected from its Christian and Pagan origins. American Jews who celebrate Halloween are likely to view it as a secular holiday, little different from Thanksgiving or the Fourth of July. Secular Jews and non-Orthodox Jews are more likely to celebrate Halloween.[3] According to Kveller magazine, many, if not the majority of American Jews, consider Halloween to be "harmless fun". Many Jewish parents allow their children to wear costumes and go trick-or-treating during Halloween.[4]
Religious views on Halloween
According to Alfred J. Kolatch in the Second Jewish Book of Why, in Judaism, Halloween is not permitted by halakha (Jewish religious law) because it violates Leviticus 18:3, which forbids Avodah Zarah, Jewish participation in non-Jewish religious customs.[5] Trick-or-treating can be problematic for Jews who keep kosher, because some Halloween candies are not kosher. However, much of the popular candies in the United States are certified kosher.[6]
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism generally prohibits the celebration of Halloween. Modern Orthodox Jews typically do not celebrate Halloween. Some Modern Orthodox parents may allow certain leniencies such as allowing their children to eat kosher Halloween candy or visit haunted houses, but otherwise do not participate. Orthodox Rabbi Michael Broyde opposes Jewish celebration of Halloween because the holiday "plainly has in its origins religious beliefs that are foreign to Judaism" and that are "prohibited to us as Jews." Rabbi Broyde also acknowledged that the majority of Americans and American Jews who celebrate Halloween are not doing so for religious reasons.[7] Rabbi Jack Abramowitz of the Orthodox Union has discouraged Jewish celebration of Halloween due to its "combination of Celtic, Roman and Christian" elements that are "distinctly non-Jewish", characterizing Halloween as a non-secular holiday.[8]
Reform Judaism
The Union for Reform Judaism emphasizes that "informed choice" is the most important facet in whether Reform Jews do or do not celebrate Halloween.[9] Reform Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser has said that "There is no religious reason why contemporary Jews should not celebrate Halloween."[10]
