Posted on 10/31/2012 10:31:16 AM PDT by Zionist Conspirator
If you allow your kids to participate in the pagan rites of a gentile culture, they are likely to grow up with pumpkin heads instead of Jewish heads.
Tonight, Jewish youth all over the world – except in Israel– will celebrate the pagan holiday of Halloween.
Halloween is also called All Hallows’ Eve, because, for the gentiles, it is a hallowed evening, the eve of All Saints’ Day, a day which honors all Christian saints.
The Encyclopedia Britannica explains that in ancient Britain and Ireland, the Festival of Halloween was also celebration of the end of the fertile period of the Celtic goddess, Eiseria. It is said that when Eiseria reaches the end of her fertile cycle, the worlds of the dead and the living intertwine. This supposedly happens on October 31. Masks are worn to show respect for the Goddess Eiseria, who, like most Celtic gods, does not wish to be seen by human eyes. This is one of the reason behind Halloween costumes and for the holiday’s omens, spirits, demons, and witches.
This date was also New Year’s Eve in both Celtic and Anglo-Saxon times, and was the occasion for one of the ancient fire festivals when huge bonfires were set on hilltops to frighten away evil spirits. The souls of the dead were supposed to revisit their homes on this day, and the festival acquired sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, hobgoblins, black cats, fairies, and demons said to be roaming about.
It was the time to placate the supernatural powers controlling the processes of nature. In addition, Halloween was thought to be the most favorable time for divination concerning marriage, luck, health, and death. It was the only day on which the help of the devil was invoked for such purposes. These pagan observances also influenced the Christian festival of All Hallows’ Eve, celebrated on the same date.
Jewish Law states:
A Jew should not follow the customs of the gentiles, nor imitate them in dress, or in their way of trimming their hair, as it says, ‘You shall not walk in the customs of the nation which I cast out before you’ (Lev. 20:23), and ‘Neither shall you walk in their statutes’ (Lev. 18:3). These verses all refer to one and the same matter of not imitating them. A Jew, on the contrary, should be distinguished from them and recognizable by the way he dresses, and in his other activities, just as he is distinguished from them in his knowledge and his beliefs, as it is said, ‘I have set you apart from the peoples’ (Lev. 20:26). (See, Rambam, Laws Regarding Idol Worship and the Ordinances of the Gentiles, 11:1).
When it comes to the question whether Jews can take part in gentile holidays, the halachic discussion differs between clearly religious holidays like Xmas, which are forbidden, and purely secular holidays like Labor Day, which are permissible. Halloween’s religious origins and pagan history place it in the category of gentile holidays that are forbidden to celebrate.
Though Halloween in America has been secularized and commercialized to the point where it is now a frivolous time of costumes, candy, and pranks, it is still celebrated in places like Scotland and Ireland as a Celtic festival of the spirits, and in other places as a holiday honoring the Christian saints. Therefore, there is good reason for telling the kids that “Trick or Treating” is a no-no for Jewish children.
The law prohibiting our participation in gentile holidays and customs comes to protect our special Jewish holiness and cultural distinction. If you allow your kids to participate in the pagan rites of a gentile culture, they are likely to grow up with pumpkin heads instead of Jewish heads.
On the other hand, if you try to safeguard our distinction as Jews and not let your children go “Trick or Treating” with all the other kids in the neighborhood, there’s a good chance that they will grow up hating both you and Judaism for turning them into freaks in the eyes of their friends. Either way, as a Jewish parent, you lose.
What’s the solution? Move to Israel. The only place you will see a pumpkin here is in the supermarket (a small yellow one that looks more like a squash). If you truly love your children and don’t want them growing up with pumpkin heads, then the only solution is to bring them to Israel where they will grow up with Jewish holidays like we’re supposed to.
For example, my 12-year-old son doesn’t know anything about Halloween. He probably has heard about Xmas, but he’s never heard any “Silent Night, Holy Night” carols or seen mangers, or Santa Claus decorations on the street. He’s never heard of Ground Hound Day, and he couldn’t tell you what color is associated with St. Patrick. If you told him that Americans eat gefilta fish on Thanksgiving, he wouldn’t know you were pulling his leg. He’s totally ignorant when it comes to Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, and I doubt that he’s heard of Columbus. I can bet he’s never seen an Easter egg, and to him, the Fourth of July doesn’t mean a thing. For him, Memorial Day honors Israel’s fallen soldiers and not department stores sales. His official school holidays fall on the Days of Awe, Sukkot, Chanukah, and Pesach, and not on the Xmas and Easter celebration of Jezeus.
In other words, my son, thank G-d, is growing up to be a Jew without any foreign Xtian pollution, and without the schizophrenia of observing the holidays of gentile countries and cultures in foreign gentile lands.
Are you still going to let your kid go Trick-or-Treating tonight?
This is really sad. I knew Americans and Christians could exhibit ignorant, bigoted and hateful thoughts. Now I see Jews want in on that action too.
Some are absolutely incapable of giving it a rest.
“Why don’t you think that Jewish holidays can be fun?”
Because I have been to them and had to sing for my supper?
Just kidding!
Happy Halloween!
The hypocrisy of that statement, considering that chrstians believe Jews are inferior "uncompleted Jews" unless they have converted to chrstianity, is off the charts.
As for not being invited, why don't you call up your local Orthodox congregation the next time a Jewish holiday is being celebrated and ask about coming over to celebrate with them?
But you _are_ invited, dadgum!
You may be able to find a group of Messianic brothers, right in your area. If not and you have some money, head to Jerusalem for Sukkot! Many thousands of Messianic folks go every year, and growing. More money please...
These are _not_ Jewish festivals they are YHWH’s own. They are for all of His people.
We are not to even say the names of foreign gods, but the word god is a secular word for any of them, not the name of one of them.
I took a few deep breaths and counted to ten before I replied.
Calling me a hypocrite assumes that you know what I believe to be true. You do not. And, I must admit, I am offended by your comment.
So you reject Jesus of Nazareth. That is between you and your creator. I have never thought of Jews as incomplete in any way.
Personally, I’d like to see Israel abandoned by the polluted Christians of the USA. Let the Israelis defend themselves against the nations who hate them and have vowed to exterminate them. After all - isn’t it a form of idol worship for Israel to rely on anyone but G_d to be their defense?
(Well, except for Mormonism, Mitt Romney agrees with you...how "inspiring" for Christians "in every form" to vote for him...!!!)
I can’t believe the days of Bobbing for Dreidels and Pin the Tail on the Yarmulke are long gone.
Can anybody live in Israel and really not know that Christmas exists?
Many people prefer not to observe Halloween for any number of reasons. Here’s a simple rule everyone should be able to understand...porch light on, come get your goodies. Porch light off, move on.
In before the “No thanks”.
Hey how come you never told me that I think you’re inferior?
What Romney actually “does” politically is far more significant for America than what he may or may not religiously believe.
Though one guesses you’re voting for soetoro.
You forget the Muslims, they're bent about Halloween too.
Sometimes I miss Emperor Julian, he would have been cool with Halloween.
“In other words, my son, thank G-d, is growing up to be a Jew without any foreign Xtian pollution.....”
Wow! Israel & its cosmopolitan culture wouldn’t be good enough for you, except maybe for those ultra-Orthodox who hurl rocks at women in miniskirts.
Not at all surprising for people who tolerate abortion, eh?!
Now, about the arguments you have advanced 'cause you know that when you bring in one of these deals it's like you've already bought into it or you wouldn't bring it in.
You sly devil you (using an idiomatic expression to throw you off base) you know very well every point of Jewish law is in dispute by some authority at some time in history if not at this moment, and there are literally thousands of advocates for even the slightest perception of difference between one outlook and another.
So, who is your authority so that we can get someone in here who can throw a different authority at you?
No sense debating this in a vacuum ~
No I did not. I am not Tzvi Fishman. And in fact, I'm not even Jewish. But I am a Noachide, so yes, I do approve of it. That's why I posted it.
Look. I can accept your hostility towards Christ and us Christians. Just like when muzzies attack our God, I feel sorry for them and I feel sorry for you.
Since I am a former chrstian, there is absolutely no need to "feel sorry" for me. Furthermore, it is chrstianity and islam that ripped off Judaism, which is older than both of them.
But this article goes far beyond attacking Christianity. It is an assault on all sorts of American holidays and traditions.
And I can accept that too. Not only do you insult Christians - you insult America.
Now you're being absolutely ridiculous. There is no separate American "gxd" or "religion." There is only the One True G-d and His Laws for all mankind. Chrstian holidays (whether in America or elsewhere) violate these Laws.
If you derive your worldview from "American traditions" rather than from the One True G-d, then you are the one people should feel sorry for.
But what I can’t understand is how a ‘swipe like you has lasted some 13 years here.
IBTZ.
JR has been very nice to me.
So, is everyone who oppses "halloween" a "'swipe," or is it just me? Are all those Fundamentalist Protestants who are attacking "halloween" (and being accused of "bigotry" by their Catholic opponents for doing so) "'swipes" as well?
So you’re equating Judaism with Nazism? Thanks for telling us where you stand.
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