Rabbi Shlomo Chein: Welcome. I'll be with you in a moment...what's on your mind?

givemecandy: Why don’t Jews celebrate halloween?

Rabbi Shlomo Chein: it is [originally] a pagan holiday

givemecandy: what does that mean?

Rabbi Shlomo Chein: it means the holiday originated as a form of idolatry

givemecandy: do you hand out candy even though it is a pagan holiday?

Rabbi Shlomo Chein: I live in a non-jewish neighborhood so when people come to my door i give them candy so they shouldn't have bad feelings about Jews

givemecandy: why would you think that they would not like Jews if you didn’t give out candy? For goodness sake... candy is bad for kids' teeth! They should thank you.

Rabbi Shlomo Chein: let me explain, i mean as a kid if the one guy on the block who doesn't give you candy is a rabbi you will think there is something wrong with jews - they are cheap, they don't like nonjews etc

givemecandy: got it

givemecandy: wait... if it comes from a religion that worships idols, shouldn't christian people be against halloween as well? Why don't they feel the same way as we do?

givemecandy: :-/

Rabbi Shlomo Chein: as for the christians, well if I remember correctly really religious christians (or some forms thereof) don't celebrate. However you need to ask other religions why they do what they do, i have a hard enough time keeping up with my own religion :-)

givemecandyl: my mom says that you're right about the candy giving out thing... and she's glad that you give out candy for that reason

Rabbi Shlomo Chein: thanks :-)

givemecandyl: ok, i have to go

Rabbi Shlomo Chein: bye

givemecandyl: thank you for answering my questions

Rabbi Shlomo Chein: my pleasure

[Ed. note: Askmoses.com only offers general Jewish information, and not does issue Halachic rulings. The above chat is a general observation; it is not a Halachic permission or prohibition].