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From: robison@eosp1.UUCP (Tobias D. Robison)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Haloween and Jews
Message-ID: <1226@eosp1.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 5-Nov-84 12:36:33 EST
Article-I.D.: eosp1.1226
Posted: Mon Nov  5 12:36:33 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 6-Nov-84 06:56:33 EST
References: <673@hou2h.UUCP> <1045@ulysses.UUCP> <1634@ucf-cs.UUCP>
Reply-To: robison@eosp1.UUCP (Tobias D. Robison)
Organization: Exxon Office Systems, Princeton
Lines: 26
Summary: 

Although the Torah requires us to avoid the ways of pagans, there
is some question where to raw the line.  The only way to avoid
extensive influences from the secular society we live in, is to
pretty much withdraw from secular life.  For those Jews who decide
not to do this, and there are many who are deeply observant, one
cannot just arbitrarily look right and left at things and brand
them pagan.

As an example of what I believe are serious differenes in degree,
the new year holiday celebrated January 1st in this country is
seriously pagan (not just secular), and dangerous influence which
religious people (Christian as well as Jewish) should avoid.

This holiday features an emphasis on licentiousness, and various
customs and fears (concerning repentance) that seem to deny the
existence of G-d (by trivializing the process of repentance).  

I think that my children can participate in halloween without
suffering any pagan, non-Jewish influence.  I don't think they can
safely participate in new year's; for this holiday, they must be
carefully warned.

	- Toby Robison (not Robinson!)
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