The disguised kids who knocked on our Maryland home door to get candy have no idea what's behind Halloween (Halloween).
For them, this is not a holiday that corresponds with pagan traditions, the saints are not interested in them, the roots of the holiday for them are at most another sub-entry in Wikipedia.
Anyone who attends a public school will also not be exposed to the true meaning of Halloween, because the public education system does not teach anything that has anything to do with religion.
For them, the costumes and sweets are detached from any context.
carnival.
This is Halloween.
Smiling faces and makeup and sacks full of processed sugar and pumpkin slices and a marathon of horror movies on TV.
Not religion, just great fun and eyes wide open with a spark of happiness, with the candy bowl outstretched and the phrase "Take more than one, it's okay" said.
In Israel, too, they "discovered" the holiday, and in various places began to observe its "commandments": groups of children organize together to collect sweets and dress up in zombie costumes.
As on New Year's Eve, the Israelis embraced the outward signs and turned the evening into an evening of fun.
Of course there are those who are bothered by this, because how is it possible, Rahmana Letzelen, a holiday of Gentiles in a Jewish state.
It seems that any "import" of something from outside may undermine the value and moral foundations of the State of Israel.
Once these were the Beatles, today these are smiling and bright pumpkins.
We have maintained Judaism for two thousand years, and what will be the next step after collecting piles of chocolates - assimilation?
But this is exactly how immigrants from the former Soviet Union were treated, when they brought with them the Christmas tree tradition, the Joluchka.
Instead of realizing that people are celebrating something family, beautiful, happy and fun, the religious establishment treated the celebrants with contempt, contempt and suspicion.
No, the tree does not make people less Jewish, nor does it detract in any way from the beauty and significance of the Hanukkah holiday that took place at that time.
Because a holiday can be cultural, it does not have to have religious significance - and that is exactly what happens with Halloween.
Every culture has external characteristics, and some of them have become popular symbols.
The menorah has become a symbol of Hanukkah, but hey, it is not in the original story of the holiday.
Jesus was born at Christmas, but the gifts under the tree are not part of his birth story.
The adoption of the symbols is in no way related to conversion or renunciation of uniqueness, on the contrary.
Knowing how to enjoy the beauty of what others have to offer and still stay yourself is a great power.
Israel is a Jewish state, it cannot be missed.
Judaism is present all the time, it is an integral part of the place, its faith, and yes, its culture as well.
There is nothing to fear that following the adoption of one foreign cultural mark or another it will change.
None of the Jewish children who celebrated Halloween will be assimilated following the piles of candy and waffles he collected.
Max he will wake up in the morning with a stomach ache.