Trick or Treat?

Oct 15, 2021 | Rabbi Chessin's Column

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.

Rabbi Judy Chessin

Rabbi Judy Chessin

Rabbi of Temple Beth Or

Rabbi Judy Chessin has been the Rabbi of Temple Beth Or since its inception in 1984, when she was asked to guide 35 South Dayton families in their endeavor to create a Reform Jewish synagogue in the Centerville area. Together they created Temple Beth Or. Originally from Orlando, Florida, Rabbi Chessin received her undergraduate training at the University of South Florida, where she was the first graduate in Judaic Studies within the Religious Studies Department. After studying in Jerusalem, Israel, she went on to complete her Masters of Arts in Hebrew Letters at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she received ordination as Rabbi in June of 1984 and was awarded the Morris H. Youngerman Prize for Homiletics. Rabbi Chessin is known for her efforts to work with other synagogues and other faiths. Rabbi Chessin has received multiple awards during her career and is a recognized leader in the Dayton Jewish community.  She is married to Professor Michael Cook of Hebrew Union College, and they have two grown sons: Brett and Chad Chessin.

Contact Rabbi Chessin at rabbichessin@templebethor.com