AboutRabbi Ari Shishler Expertise As a campus rabbi, who teaches both religious and non-religious Jewish teens every day, I'm ready and waiting for your questions.
Experience I spent six years as the head of the Chabad House Young Adults' Division in Johannesburg, South Africa, before moving to learning director.
I am the campus rabbi at the Witwatersrand University and University of Johannesburg and was the campus rabbi at Boston City Campus in Johannesburg for six years.
I have worked closely with the South African Union of Jewish students since 1997.
For the past eight years, I have been a guest lecturer at the Johannesburg "Encounter" program for King David High Schools. I have also spent two years as guest rabbi at the "Encounter" program in Cape Town.
King David High Schools, Yeshivah College and Crawford High Schools invite me regularly to speak to various classes.
Since 1996, I have been teaching Talmud at a local religious high school.
Organizations Chabad-Lubavitch
South African Rabbinical Association
Publications Jewish Tradition, South Africa. Jewish Report, weekly newspaper, South Africa SAUJS annual Holiday guide.
Education/Credentials After completing high scool, I spent six years studying in Rabbinical seminaries in South Africa, Israel and New York.
Question Hi,
I know Jews do not believe in Halloween as Halloween is not a Jewish holiday, yet many Jews give out candy for Halloween out of respect for others. How do the very very Orthodox Jews in New York handle Halloween. Do they just close their doors or do they give out candy? Should Jews in your mind give out candy?
Thanks,
Dan
Answer Hi Dan
I really don't know what Jews in NY do for Halloween, as I don't live in the States and have never had first-hand experience with this.
My guess is that they do give out candy. Why not? After all, it's a nice gesture to their gentile neighbours.
(I don't think that Jewish kids should go trick-or-treating, as it's a non-Jewish holiday).
