One of the many goals in Kitah Dalet is to teach our students to live a Jewish life in a non-Jewish world. We often talk about what separates us as Jews from the community, and what makes us active members of society. We talked about passing on the lessons of our ancestors through actions, and began to explore just what is expected of us as young members of our Jewish community. With that in mind, next Tuesday is Halloween, and because we are part of a larger community, and not necessary a larger Jewish community, we do not have Religious school next Tuesday afternoon. Not because we are celebrating Halloween as a community, but because our neighbors are.
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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