As whole, the Jewish community does not celebrate Halloween, but we do dress up for Purim! So, save those costumes and think about adding a Jewish twist or a tzedakah piece to your Trick or Treat Traditions. While it is important to support our neighbors in their celebrations, and equally important to not separate ourselves from the community, there are many ways of participating in a custom without observing it the way others do. Some suggest Jewish children share in the celebration by greeting their neighbors and giving out candy. It is certainly possible for our children to get excited about giving to others, and then the underlying theme for them is that Halloween is about giving.
A noted Rabbi and educator, Rabbi Jacob J. Hecht, once
noticed the similarity between Purim and Halloween. In both cases, children get
dressed up and go door to door receiving gifts of food. The distinction between
the two is that on Halloween, the children only receive, whereas on Purim, the
emphasis is that the children learn to give. The fact that they might receive
in return is of secondary importance.
To reinforce the value of giving, and to encourage the act
of helping others, we will be collecting all extra wrapped candy you have. Please talk to your children about giving to
others, and help them turn an everyday moment into a Jewish experience.
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