Some Jews are leery of observing Halloween with its pagan roots, promotion of ghosts and demons, and encouragement of greed as kids go door to door and demand treats. Perhaps the only non-controversial feature of the day is the CANDY itself.
For Jews, candy is a year-round necessity. Our people have a confection for every occasion, whether Passover fruit jelly chews, Hanukkah gelt, or Bazooka Bubble gum with microscopic Hebrew comics.
Less than 100 years ago, Jewish-owned candy stores dotted the entire landscape of the Lower East Side of New York. In 1929 fully 80 percent of the nations’ small candy stores were owned by Jews. Many of our immigrant ancestors started selling homemade confections out of their pushcarts and only later opened storefronts.
For instance, Economy Candy just reopened last month in New York, after a year’s closure due to the pandemic. The store started as a tiny candy cart. After the war, Morris (Moishe) Cohen rented a store and sold candy, chocolate, fruits, nuts, and kosher baskets. He would drag large sacks of fruits, nuts, and penny candies outside and schmooze up his customers. Economy Candy is New York City’s oldest retail candy store that is still owned and run by Jews.
In honor of the season, Temple Beth Or will observe a fully Kosher CANDY Shabbat on Friday, October 29 at 6:30 p.m. with a candy buffet, thematic songs, and Jewish candy trivia. Plan to sample and discover the Jewish background of some of your favorite sweets.
Temple Beth Or offers this hallowed Sabbath eve celebration for our youngsters to provide a Jewish outlet for their sweet tooth. And, if they choose to come in their Purim costumes, all the better. No matter what your age, or your feelings about Halloween, savor the sweet taste of CANDY Shabbat without having to weather the elements.
