Do You Follow Halloween Or Purim?

By Shlomo Walfish

Living in the five towns with lots of Jewish neighbors can be wonderful, but sometimes one can easily forget he is still in exile. Last Wednesday on my way to a wedding I was clearly reminded of this. I was driving to the Marina Del Rey, crossed the Whitestone bridge, got off the exit and headed down East Tremont Avenue. Suddenly, I saw a clown on the street. At first I first though there’s a party, then I saw more people with costumes. When I saw a witch I realized that it was Halloween. I wasn’t checking my Christian calendar that week. As I got closer to my destination I realized I am NOT in Woodmere anymore. The children on the sidewalks were in full costume with bags and orange plastic pumpkin buckets going door to door collecting their treats. It was a refreshing wake up call and reminded me where I really was.

I got to the wedding hall and when dinner came the Choson's brother got up to make a speech. He is a Persian Jew that lives in Great Neck. He started by apologizing to the Non Jewish waiters and staff who were in the room, he then said, tonight Americans celebrate Halloween and continued to explain that its origins are completely PAGAN. He then pointed out that Jews have Purim which has many similarities, we also dress up and eat treats... so what is the BIG difference? He then explained the main message the gentiles teach their children on Halloween is to go out and TAKE treats, but Jews on Purim teach their children to go out and GIVE gifts to others. This is the Jewish way, and the Choson and Kallah should give to each other.

This got me thinking about how Israeli religious leaders and political representatives relate to this concept. In particular I was thinking of the political parties that believe in the Torah. While the religious parties in Israel have provided well for their constituents in the past, like getting funding for Torah institutions, mikvahs, etc. what in fact is their basic modis operandi? If one is brutally honest one will realize that although the religious parties may have good intentions, their main function is and always was, TAKING money from the government and using it for what they deem important. While on the surface this may not seem so bad, one has to ask, does this follow the teaching of Purim or that of Halloween? Since Halloween is about TAKING the answer should be obvious. But one may argue they are supporting Torah. If one views this as the Jewish way, let's get a more complete view of how this way of thinking effects Israel.

The Shas Party voted for the Oslo accords in 1993 which gave 50,000 machine guns to terrorist who used them to kill Jews. Before the expulsion of 10,000 Jews from Gush Katif the Mafdal kept the Government alive even while the government was planning its destruction. After it was all “legal” and the damage was done, they decided to leave. Then the United Torah Judaism stepped in the save the day for the promise of a few million shekel. The religious parties have had ministers in education positions in the past and never instituted GIVING a Jewish education to all Jewish children in Israel. Now Israel has Prime Minister Olmert, President Shimon Peres, (thanks to Shas), and a government that continues to throw Jews out of their homes in places like Hebron, beat up Jews who disagree with and protest against their suicidal policies, and are planning to divide Jerusalem and give over Har Habaiyit the Holiest JEWISH place on earth to Terrorists. And once again for money, Shas and the Yisrael Beitenu party will continue to support this government.

The Torah tells us in Mishpatim 23:8 not to TAKE bribes “Shochad Yaaver Pikchim V’yisalef Divrei Tzadikim” Bribes blind the eyes of the wise and corrupt the words of the righteous. R. Yaakov Kaminetzky used to say, and that’s talking about real Tzadikim, that even the Torah considers Tzadikim. Can one expect religious parties and leaders to see clearly after taking bribes when the Torah clearly says it CAN NOT be done?

Is there ANY political movement that follows the message of Purim, the lesson of GIVING? The answer is YES! That group is called Manhigut Yehudit. They did not join the Likud to get jobs, money, power, or other treats. They are there to GIVE. To give Jewish direction and leadership to Israel. To give Jewish education to every Jewish child in Israel, to reform the judicial system so it represents Jewish values, to promote Jewish labor for an effective creative and moral economy, to show how a truly JEWISH army fights to protect Jewish citizens, to influence the media that it should reflect Jewish values and morals, to institute a massive Aliyah program so every Jew in the world can come and feel at home! To GIVE GIVE and GIVE some more!

You can learn about, support, and GIVE to Manhigut Yehudit which follows the lessons of Purim, or you can continue to watch other parties and political leaders follow the lessons of Halloween.