Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site utcsrgv.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utcsrgv!dave
From: dave@utcsrgv.UUCP (Dave Sherman)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Holidays -- Two Civilizations
Message-ID: <442@utcsrgv.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 9-Nov-84 12:10:38 EST
Article-I.D.: utcsrgv.442
Posted: Fri Nov  9 12:10:38 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 9-Nov-84 12:45:42 EST
References: <228@mhuxi.UUCP>
Reply-To: dave@utcsrgv.UUCP (Dave Sherman)
Distribution: net
Organization: The Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto
Lines: 34

In article <228@mhuxi.UUCP> ktw@whuxe.UUCP (Ken Wolman) writes:
|| 
|| 			are at least some of the people who get
|| high-and-mighty about Halloween as anti-Jewish simply playing
|| the frummer-than-thou game because of their own discomfort with
|| the level of their Jewishness?  The refusal of one net 
|| correspondent to ANSWER THE DOOR on Halloween suggests the
|| kind of mind-set that might be better served in a community
|| like Boro Park or Monsey, where having only Jewish neighbors is
|| a great convenience like having a dispose-all and dishwasher.
|| It's not a religious solution: it's a pietistic solution
|| which avoids confrontation with the secular world by pretending
|| it doesn't exist.

As the net correspondent in question, let me reply to this point.
My objections to Halloween aren't based only on the religious or
pagan element. I object to the whole concept of kids being allowed
to show up on my door and demand candy. It's not that I'm cheap;
we probably spend much more money and time putting together Mishloach
Manos plates for friends and neighbours on Purim than most people
spend in handy out treats on October 31. It's the principle involved.

I certainly don't pretend the secular world doesn't exist. But I
have no need for certain of its customs which I find objectionable.

Ken goes on to mention July 4 (equivalent here is Canada Day, July 1.)
I have no problem with celebrations of such days, as long as they
don't take precedence in children's minds over the Jewish holidays,
which have so much more to offer.

Dave Sherman
Toronto
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