Should Jews Celebrate Halloween?

Ghosts & zombies vs. golems & dybbuks

Surrounded as we are by the Halloween culture, it may be worthwhile to ask the question: Does Halloween’s glorification of blood and gore, of demons and the living dead have any relation to Jewish values? Can Jews learn from zombies?

The articles below explore modern day Halloween traditions alongside the Jewish monsters, spirits and dead bodies coming to life from Jewish folklore. Come now…read on…nothing to be scared of…

Spooky jack-o-lantern

Jewish Halloween? More than just ghosts and golems

Halloween may seem an unlikely time to start pondering Judaism. But while Judaism reminds us that it’s not wrong to enjoy a good monster story or costume party, it also encourages us to reflect on their deeper meanings.
Click here to explore Jewish folklore, starring Jewish monsters and dead bodies, and the Jewish traditions honoring their spirits and souls.

Jewish Halloween skeleton costume

Should Jewish Children Celebrate Halloween?

American kids and adults love Halloween, and American Jews are no exception. But is it kosher?
Read the wide-ranging and sometimes surprising answers to this question in Moment’s “Ask the Rabbis” section.

Jewish Halloween costume

What Is Halloween if not Secular Purim?

Halloween approacheth, and with it the opportunity to impress your friends with the wittiness and originality of your costume.
Click here for some last-minute costume ideas inspired by news about Jews.

Dybbuk Spirits of the Dead that Haunt the Living?

Read about the phenomenon of being overcome by an otherworldly spirit that has a long history in Judaism. In the book of Samuel, David rids King Saul of “a spirit of melancholy from God” by playing his harp. The idea of dybbuk gained traction in the 16th century, when Kabbalah promulgated ideas about the afterlife.
Click here to read about dybbuks and other Jewish ghosts.

Golem

Golem: A Mutable Monster

Golems are the ultimate Jewish ghost in the machine, a powerful but erratic humanoid formed from earth and brought to life through kabbalistic magic. While the golem is often created with good intentions, it ultimately runs amok and must be destroyed.
Click here to read about the origins of the infamous golem.