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 Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2010 6:22 pm
The topic of Judaism and Halloween is most... contraversial.
There are some Jews who do not particiapte in Halloween, for a multitude of reasons:- Looking historically, Halloween was a pagan holiday that became a Christain Holiday that became the who-knows-what it is today, and
-Monsters and Demons? That's really more pagan than Jewish.
- Having our children begging for candy is not the dignified manner in which we Jews should present ourselves to others. Perhaps it is OK to hand out candy to the gentile children, but to have our own kids doing this? No way.
There are also some Jews who are okay with Halloween, for a few reasons of their own:- Halloween is no longer any sort of religious holiday, so what's the big deal? Jews have participated in nonreligious cultural events in diaspora lands before, haven't they?
-Some Monsters and Demons are in fact very Jewish. Ever heard of the Golem of Prague? Or read some Kaballah?
-It's just for fun, for Mordechai's Sake!
I am interested on the JGG's thoughts on this, specifically who does what.
I personally loved Halloween as a young kid. I would always go out Trick-or-Treating with a different costume, like Purim. When I turned 10 my dad said I was too old to keep doing that but I still decorate the house and hand out candy.Or go to a party, occasionally.
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Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2010 6:54 am
We have a holiday in which we wear costumes, and in which we run from house to house delivering gifts of food: Purim. The emphasis for the food is giving, not demanding. The emphasis for the costumes is (other than just good fun, I mean) illustrating that even though the face of Hashem is hidden, he is still here, still a part of our lives.
We have a harvest holiday in which we run from house to house, visiting and accepting food graciously if it's offered: Sukkot. Most sukkot have a candy jar or a snack tray for those who come by to visit during the holiday.
We have occasions on which we run from house to house asking for things: We call it tzedakah (justice/charity), and we ask for money that can be given to charitable organizations or causes. We don't even need a special holiday for this.
We have days to honor those who have died: Yahrtzeits and Yizkor. We do it with prayers, not with terrifying costumes.
Hallowe'en adds crucial components, though: Fear; demands for food (rather than polite requests); threats for mischief or violence if the demands are not met. Yeah, count me out. The things that are unique to Hallowe'en are things that I don't want to encourage in myself, nor in my children if I had them, nor in anyone else's children.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2010 2:04 pm
Hmm............ never went trick or treating when i was younger i'd only dress up for school since it would be a spirit day or something and everyone else was doing it(i went to public school). i totally forgot about halloween while i was over seas so its not really important. its like just have candy ready to give to the goyim when they show up at your door or live in a jewish community to totally avoid it. when i was in my teens i did escort some younger children around for trick or treating w/ friends since their parents couldnt and i wa sasked so ya i got candy those years since people also gave to adults/teens. but this year i did nothing though halloween is a great time to purim costume shop.
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Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2010 4:49 pm
When I was a kid I went trick or treating and has a different costume every year.
At my job we have to dress up...I work in recreation at a nursing home and the residents like it so it's no big deal.
I decorate my home, but nothing major...just a couple of things.
Halloween lost it's meaning.
I went to a Halloween Party Saturday night.
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Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 4:41 pm
Kotori82 When I was a kid I went trick or treating and has a different costume every year. At my job we have to dress up...I work in recreation at a nursing home and the residents like it so it's no big deal. I decorate my home, but nothing major...just a couple of things. Halloween lost it's meaning. I went to a Halloween Party Saturday night. Well, what was the meaning of Halloween? Christmas used to be a religious thing about the birth of Jesus and it was very spiritual thing to his followers. But then it became a commercial cash cow. Christmas has lost its meaning. But what was the meaning of Halloween to start with? The meaning of the Pagan holiday certainly is gone. The meaning of the Christian All Saints' Day that it turned into is certainly gone too. But the meaning of the Halloween that All Saints' Day turned into... what was it anyway? Was it ever anything but a commercial thing for costumes and candy?
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 10:21 am
Lumanny the Space Jew Kotori82 When I was a kid I went trick or treating and has a different costume every year. At my job we have to dress up...I work in recreation at a nursing home and the residents like it so it's no big deal. I decorate my home, but nothing major...just a couple of things. Halloween lost it's meaning. I went to a Halloween Party Saturday night. Well, what was the meaning of Halloween? Christmas used to be a religious thing about the birth of Jesus and it was very spiritual thing to his followers. But then it became a commercial cash cow. Christmas has lost its meaning. But what was the meaning of Halloween to start with? The meaning of the Pagan holiday certainly is gone. The meaning of the Christian All Saints' Day that it turned into is certainly gone too. But the meaning of the Halloween that All Saints' Day turned into... what was it anyway? Was it ever anything but a commercial thing for costumes and candy? actually for some who practice christianity christmas isnt about presents but about the birth still the presents if they are any are a nice side thing. well halloween in king henry VIII day was a time for praying feasting have some people in costumes ands be merry
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 6:51 pm
We don't celebrate Halloween per se, but this year (for the first time) our 7 year old wanted to go ToT'ing. We let her. We were very clear that not everything she'd get in her bag would be kosher, so not to be disappointed. She was more interested in dressing up and collecting than the end result. She dressed as a bumblebee with fairy wings and a fairy wand, and we had fun making the outfit. We also give out candy to ToT'ers. We don't do the scary stuff, and we're certainly not worshipping pumpkins or whatever, heh, but as a day it holds no meaning for us. It's just a license to act a little silly and eat candy.
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Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 7:09 pm
jewangel Lumanny the Space Jew Kotori82 When I was a kid I went trick or treating and has a different costume every year. At my job we have to dress up...I work in recreation at a nursing home and the residents like it so it's no big deal. I decorate my home, but nothing major...just a couple of things. Halloween lost it's meaning. I went to a Halloween Party Saturday night. Well, what was the meaning of Halloween? Christmas used to be a religious thing about the birth of Jesus and it was very spiritual thing to his followers. But then it became a commercial cash cow. Christmas has lost its meaning. But what was the meaning of Halloween to start with? The meaning of the Pagan holiday certainly is gone. The meaning of the Christian All Saints' Day that it turned into is certainly gone too. But the meaning of the Halloween that All Saints' Day turned into... what was it anyway? Was it ever anything but a commercial thing for costumes and candy? actually for some who practice christianity christmas isnt about presents but about the birth I just said that.
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 8:29 pm
Holloween in truth has it's origins in Judaism, Christianity, and Pagan/Wicca.
The costume thing was actually borrowed from Purim and Samhain. In Samhain they were costumes to scare away any evil spirits that lingered. The Christians took the idea of Esther disguising herself, ands used it as a way to hide from spirits and demons.
In Christianity it was originally called All Hollows Eve, way before they merged it with the Gaelic holiday of Samhain (a holiday that is to respect the dead, and offer them food and such. The traditions of carving pumpkins, comes from carving out turnips.). I have some Gael in me from my moms side. So ya.
Samhain means november and also Summers end. It's deepest root is from the word sanskrit word Sama which means season.
Also Judaism has plenty of Demons, part demons, spirits, and ect in it. Asmodai King of Demons in fact is half human, and half succubi. His dad is King David, and his mother is Agrat Bat Malat.
Also is it me or the fact that Asmodai king of demons is the son of King David, and the mosiach must be of Kind Davids line, is sort of scary.
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 7:48 am
Lumanny the Space Jew jewangel Lumanny the Space Jew Kotori82 When I was a kid I went trick or treating and has a different costume every year. At my job we have to dress up...I work in recreation at a nursing home and the residents like it so it's no big deal. I decorate my home, but nothing major...just a couple of things. Halloween lost it's meaning. I went to a Halloween Party Saturday night. Well, what was the meaning of Halloween? Christmas used to be a religious thing about the birth of Jesus and it was very spiritual thing to his followers. But then it became a commercial cash cow. Christmas has lost its meaning. But what was the meaning of Halloween to start with? The meaning of the Pagan holiday certainly is gone. The meaning of the Christian All Saints' Day that it turned into is certainly gone too. But the meaning of the Halloween that All Saints' Day turned into... what was it anyway? Was it ever anything but a commercial thing for costumes and candy? actually for some who practice christianity christmas isnt about presents but about the birth I just said that. Even though Yeshua was born in spring and not in Winter, and Christmas in fact is a trully pagan holiday having it's origins in greek and roman orgy holidays, german solistice holidays, and ect. The original Christians, the Notzrim who were still considered Jews, and technically be todays standards are still considered Jews besides the messiah thing. Hell Judaism has had many messianic sects and they were ex communicated now that I think about it.
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 10:28 am
Lumanny the Space Jew jewangel Lumanny the Space Jew Kotori82 When I was a kid I went trick or treating and has a different costume every year. At my job we have to dress up...I work in recreation at a nursing home and the residents like it so it's no big deal. I decorate my home, but nothing major...just a couple of things. Halloween lost it's meaning. I went to a Halloween Party Saturday night. Well, what was the meaning of Halloween? Christmas used to be a religious thing about the birth of Jesus and it was very spiritual thing to his followers. But then it became a commercial cash cow. Christmas has lost its meaning. But what was the meaning of Halloween to start with? The meaning of the Pagan holiday certainly is gone. The meaning of the Christian All Saints' Day that it turned into is certainly gone too. But the meaning of the Halloween that All Saints' Day turned into... what was it anyway? Was it ever anything but a commercial thing for costumes and candy? actually for some who practice christianity christmas isnt about presents but about the birth I just said that. actually you implied thats what it use to mean and today no one celebrtaes it for that reason
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 10:32 am
Zumbi2 Lumanny the Space Jew jewangel Lumanny the Space Jew Kotori82 When I was a kid I went trick or treating and has a different costume every year. At my job we have to dress up...I work in recreation at a nursing home and the residents like it so it's no big deal. I decorate my home, but nothing major...just a couple of things. Halloween lost it's meaning. I went to a Halloween Party Saturday night. Well, what was the meaning of Halloween? Christmas used to be a religious thing about the birth of Jesus and it was very spiritual thing to his followers. But then it became a commercial cash cow. Christmas has lost its meaning. But what was the meaning of Halloween to start with? The meaning of the Pagan holiday certainly is gone. The meaning of the Christian All Saints' Day that it turned into is certainly gone too. But the meaning of the Halloween that All Saints' Day turned into... what was it anyway? Was it ever anything but a commercial thing for costumes and candy? actually for some who practice christianity christmas isnt about presents but about the birth I just said that. Even though Yeshua was born in spring and not in Winter, and Christmas in fact is a trully pagan holiday having it's origins in greek and roman orgy holidays, german solistice holidays, and ect. The original Christians, the Notzrim who were still considered Jews, and technically be todays standards are still considered Jews besides the messiah thing. Hell Judaism has had many messianic sects and they were ex communicated now that I think about it. once the notzrim started to into marry w/ the pagans they lost their jewish satus and most dont consider the karits(sp?) to be true jews- its like they are but arent at the same time- they only follow the written torah and not the torah shel bapeh which you need to explain the written torah
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