By Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California
Halloween is widely celebrated through costumes, trick-or-treating, and parties. Although largely secular today, the holiday has roots in ancient Celtic traditions, particularly Samhain, and later Christian observances honoring the dead.
Given its non-Jewish origins, many Jews question whether celebrating Halloween conflicts with Jewish law. Leviticus 18:3 cautions against adopting the customs of other nations, and some rabbinic authorities argue that Halloween’s pagan associations make participation inappropriate.
Others distinguish between religious practices and modern cultural traditions. Since most Americans celebrate Halloween as a secular holiday, some Jewish families see no conflict in participating in neighborhood festivities and community gatherings.
Families who prefer a Jewish alternative can celebrate Purim with costumes, treats, and celebrations rooted in Jewish tradition. Halloween can also provide an opportunity to discuss Jewish identity and the differences between religious and cultural customs.
Ultimately, Jewish opinions vary, with families making decisions based on their interpretations of Jewish law and traditions.
If you celebrate, be safe and look out for trick-or-treaters roaming the streets, and also be extra careful with the incoming rainstorm.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Temple Emanu-El announces its “Día de los Muertos Family Shabbat” at 5 p.m., Friday, October 30. This event includes family Shabbat service led by Torah School’s 6th and 7th grade students. With registration, dinner includes tacos, rice, beans, quesadillas, salad, agua fresca, fruit, and dessert. Click here to register.
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Temple Emanu-El announces its “Artisan Festival: Hosted by the Women of Temple Emanu-El” at 9 a.m. on Sunday, November 1. This event will include locally made pottery, jewelry, woodwork, glass, textiles, holiday gifts, and Chanukah items. There will be opportunity drawings – win works donated by the artisans- and silent auctions for gift cards, services, and more.
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Congregation Beth Israel announces its “Mending Hearts: Finding Hope and Meaning After Loss” at 10 a.m., Session 1: Sundays, November 1 and 15. Session 2: Sundays, January 31, February 7, 21, 28, March 7, and 14. This small support group, facilitated by Rabbi Aliza Berk, LMFT, Jewish Educator, Chaplain and Spiritual Director, and Gail Braverman, LMFT, Certified Art Therapist, Certified Amherst Writers and Artists Facilitator, and Yoga Instructor, will guide participants through the healing process with love and support. Click here to register.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue presents its “Miller Introduction to Judaism” at 11 a.m., Sunday, November 1. This 18-week course, led by Rabbi Hanan Leberman, will explore topics including Jewish literacy, history, tradition, denominational Judaism, the modern State of Israel, Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah), customs, ethics, culture, and Jewish wisdom, all in a setting where questions are more important than answers. Click here for more information and to register.
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Antisemitism Task Force San Diego, Stand With Us, Art Over Hate Collective, and Christian and Jewish Alliance announce “The Third Annual Solidarity Event: Christians and Jews Unite with Israel and Against Antisemitism” at 6 p.m., Sunday, November 1, in Carlsbad. This event will be led by Rabbi Hanan Leberman of Tifereth Israel Synagogue, survivors of the October 7 attack, Guy and Gal Gilboa-Dalal, and Pastor Dave Menard of The Mission Church. The program will include unity, music, love, and prayer. Click here to rsvp and to receive the address.
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Congregation Beth El presents “Vav: Live in Concert” at 7 p.m., Sunday, November 1. This event includes a 16-piece band that will perform decades of songs featuring the music of Carole King, Rush, Billy Joel, Maroon 5, and more. Click here to rsvp.
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Beth Jacob Congregation announces its “Semichas Chaver: Revolutionize Your Torah Learning with Rabbi Baruch Frankel” Mondays, November 2. These weekly sessions led by Frankel will include the most common halachos that arise daily, take-home question-and-answer sessions to discuss at your Shabbat table, and an understanding of the ethical and philosophical background of the halachos. Click here to register.
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Lawrence Family JCC presents its “Survey of Zionist Thought” at 10:30 a.m., Tuesdays, November 3, 10, 17; December 1, 8, and 15. This class will be led by Rabbi Phil Graubart, who will explore the history and evolution of Zionist thought, from its early roots to today. Click here to register.
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San Diego Center for Jewish Culture’s East County Lecture Series presents “Beyond Hate: The Story of a Recovering Skinhead with Frank Meeink” at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 3 at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. Meeink will share his journey from neo-Nazi skinhead to activist, recovery advocate, and devoted Jew. His story of confronting hatred, embracing Judaism, and working against extremism and racism is a powerful testament to accountability, redemption, and change. Click here to register.
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Congregation Beth El presents its “Jewish Meditation Cohort” at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3. Craig Parks will lead these sessions, which will provide going into a deeper and more spiritual practice alongside a caring community. Click here for more information.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue announces its “Chair Aerobics Class with Ethel Speiser” at 11 a.m., Thursdays, starting November 5. Speiser will teach a one-hour, low-impact exercise class that delivers a full-body workout from the comfort of a seated position or using a chair for balance. Click here to register.
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Congregation Adat Yeshurun presents “Bolok: The Story That Silence Covered, Theatrical Adaptation by Todd Salovey based on the book by Alfredo Ratniewski” at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, November 5. The dramatic play reading reveals the story of a family who risked everything to save a Jewish man during the Holocaust in war-torn Poland, and their descendants who, 80 years later, reached out to hide their son to ensure that history was not forgotten.
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RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust Speaker Series announces its “Second Tuesday of the Month: Sandra Scheller” at 6 p.m., Tuesday, November 10 at the San Diego Central Library. Scheller, a child of survivors Ruth and Kurt Sax, curator and creator, talks about her parents being Holocaust survivors. Her mother was in camps, and her father escaped.
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Ner Tamid Synagogue presents its “Shabbaton Weekend with Spiritual Musician Yoel Sykes” at 5:45 p.m. Friday, November 13, and 7 p.m. Saturday, November 14. Friday’s event includes Shabbat services and dinner, and Saturday’s event includes Havdalah and a concert. Click here to register.
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Congregation Dor Hadash announces “Yoel Sykes for a Joyful Musical Prayer Experience” at 9 a.m. on Sunday, November 15. Sykes is known for his uplifting music and engaging participatory facilitation. Sykes creates spaces for connection, inspiration, and joy through song and prayer. Click here to register.
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JCompany Youth Theatre presents “ei8ht” with opening night at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, November 28 at the Lawrence Family JCC. Directed by Becky Cherlin Baird and Sarah Gimbel, written and scored by 13-year-old Ari Gimbel. The play tells the story of siblings Tali and Adam, who struggle to make the Chanukah holiday not so rushed and overwhelming, and long to bring the light back and draw their family together through small acts of togetherness, rekindling joy, laughter, and meaning. Other dates include 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., Sunday, November 29; 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday, November 30; and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., Sunday, December 6. Click here for tickets.
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RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust Speaker Series announces its “Second Tuesday of the Month: Maria Coleman” at 6 p.m., Tuesday, December 8, at the San Diego Central Library. Coleman, a child in hiding, will share what her life was like and who she is today. She is the artist in the exhibit.
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RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust Speaker Series announces its “Second Tuesday of the Month: Jordan Engle” at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 12 at the San Diego Central Library. Engle will share the remarkable life story of Holocaust survivor Dr. Edith Eva Eger, whose experiences, courage, and resilience powerfully remind us of the strength of the human spirit.
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RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust Speaker Series announces its “Second Tuesday of the Month: Heidi Langbein-Allen” at 6 p.m., Tuesday, February 9 at the San Diego Central Library. Langbein-Allen, an author and child of a boy soldier in Hitler’s army, will share stories about her father and bring copies of her book to sign, or they can be purchased ahead of time.
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RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust Speaker Series announces its “Second Tuesday of the Month: Jack Morgenstern” at 6 p.m., Tuesday, March 9 at the San Diego Central Library. Morgenstern will share stories about his mother, Gussie Zaks. She was a driving force in getting Holocaust survivors to speak in schools and organizations.
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RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust Speaker Series announces its “Second Tuesday of the Month: Ben Midler” at 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 19 at the San Diego Central Library. Midler is a Holocaust survivor of six camps, including Auschwitz, and author of The Life of a Child Survivor from Bialystok, Poland.
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CHABAD CENTERS’ HAPPENINGS
East County announces its “Shabbat Friday Night Dinner” at 6 p.m., Friday, October 30. This event will include Shabbat services followed by a community dinner. Click here to rsvp.
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Chula Vista presents its “Kids Chanukah Workshop at Home Depot” at 11 a.m., Sunday, November 15, at Eastlake Home Depot. Children can build their own dreidel game board and enjoy Chanukah treats. Click here to register.
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University City’s Jewish Women’s Circle announces its “Pour and Glow: Women’s Candle Workshop” at 7:30 p.m., Monday, November 16. Women are invited to pour their own Chanukah candles with Sandy from Linoy Boutique Candles, plus a latke bar. Click here to register.
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University City presents its “Kids Menorah Workshop” at 10 a.m. on Sunday, November 22 at the Home Depot. Children can build their own Chanukah menorah and enjoy Chanukah treats. Click here to rsvp.
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ONLINE OFFERINGS
American Technion Society announces its “After the Vote: Michael Oren on Israel’s Future, A Webinar on Israel’s Future” Monday, November 2 on Zoom. Former Israeli ambassador Oren will lead this session and decode the results and explore the political forces shaping not just coalition negotiations, but Israel’s future. Discover what voting patterns reveal about a profoundly changed Israeli electorate, how three years of conflict have reshaped public opinion, and what it all means for Israel’s security, national unity, and place in the world. Click here to register.
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My Jewish Learning announces its “Ethiopian Jewish History: From Ancient Origins to Today” at 4 p.m. on Monday, November 2 on Zoom. This six-week course led by Steven Kaplan, professor emeritus at Hebrew University, will explore travel across time and space from ancient Africa to modern-day Israel, learning about Ethiopian Jewish customs, traditions, and heroism along the way. Click here to register.
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Young Israel of San Diego presents “Let’s Talk Parsha with Rabbi Eddie Rosenberg” at 8:30 p.m., Monday, November 2, at San Diego Kollel and on Zoom.
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My Jewish Learning announces “The World of Sholem Aleichem” at 4 p.m., Tuesdays, November 3 and 10, on Zoom. Aleichem is one of history’s more beloved Yiddish writers, and Tevye the dairyman stories were the basis for Fiddler on the Roof. These sessions, led by Debra Caplan, associate professor of theatre at Baruch College, CUNY, will read and discuss a new short story each week, including stories involving Tevye’s comic mishaps, unpack Aleichem’s singular blend of humor and heartbreak, and explore why his characters still feel so relevant today. Click here to register.
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AROUND THE COUNTY
Ohr Shalom Synagogue congratulates parents Lee and Alexandra Abelkop of the birth and bris of their son, Arthur Abelkop. Mazel Tov!
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.
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