Jewish faithful advised to shun pagan holiday

Associated Press

Jews enter the fray in Moment magazine about whether schools and families should shun Halloween because of its pagan origins and spooky themes.

The objectors urge Jews to emphasize their own holidays instead, such as masquerading on Purim. They complain that Halloween violates Judaism by telling youngsters to demand gifts rather than give.

But others in the symposium for the October issue say the holiday isn't worth the fuss. "Lighten up," advises a Jew who probably gorged on candy as a kid.

Whatever the theology of trick-or-treating, aversion toward ghosts stems directly from the Bible.

Deuteronomy 18:10-11 says: "Let no one be found among you who consigns his son or daughter to the fire, or who is an augur, a soothsayer, a diviner, a sorcerer, one who casts spells or one who consults ghosts or familiar spirits, or one who inquires of the dead. For anyone who does such things is abhorrent to the Lord." ("Fire" refers to ancient practices of child sacrifice, fire-walking or fortune telling through ordeal.)

The addled King Saul committed the classic violation by asking the witch of Endor to consult dead spirits and foretell the future (1 Samuel 28). This seance was no trick, the Bible indicates, and the witch was able to conjure up a deceased prophet, but nowhere does Scripture suggest that ghosts can haunt us.

Other Bible passages that denounce traffic with spirits of the dead: Exodus 22:17; Leviticus 19:26, 19:31, 20:6, 20:27; 2 Kings 21:6; Isaiah 8:19-20; and Malachi 3:5.

"Halloween" refers to the eve of Nov. 1, All Saints' Day, which honors "hallowed" Christian believers without summoning their spirits.