Anonymous wrote:It’s a stupid policy. Halloween and Valentines Day are recognized in this country and no longer associated with pagan or Christian rituals.

I am Jewish and celebrate these holidays at home because I do think they've become totally secular, but that said, I really don't care if they don't celebrate these holidays at a Jewish preschool.

Anonymous wrote:It’s a stupid policy. Halloween and Valentines Day are recognized in this country and no longer associated with pagan or Christian rituals.

A LOT of people would disagree with you. I let my kids celebrate with wild abandon because these holidays are fun, but Halloween especially has not lost its pagan roots. I understand completely why religious people are not interested in dressing like skeletons and ghosts.

I'd be shocked if a Jewish school had any sort of celebration or mention of Halloween or Valentine's Day. Don't expect the leprechauns to show up for St. Patrick's Day, either.

If you'd like more celebration then take the day (or even just the afternoon) off and take her to one of the dozens of community Halloween events around. A lot of shopping malls do this.

It’s a stupid policy. Halloween and Valentines Day are recognized in this country and no longer associated with pagan or Christian rituals.

Anonymous wrote:This is standard at Jewish preschools.

That has been my experience too. Both our local JCC (daycare and preschool) and the pluralistic nondenominational Jewish school (preschool to 8th grade) have similar policies.

This is standard at Jewish preschools.

Lots of schools around here skip all these holidays. It’s “fall festival,” “winter celebration,” etc instead.

Anonymous wrote:Halloween and Valentines Day have Christian roots - all hollows / all saint’s eve and St Valentine.

That’s why they are not celebrated at any of the Jewish preschools my kids have attended.

+1

Halloween and Valentines Day have Christian roots - all hollows / all saint’s eve and St Valentine.

That’s why they are not celebrated at any of the Jewish preschools my kids have attended.

Anonymous wrote:My DD is at a Jewish preschool (we are Jewish) and we just found out that the School doesn’t let the children come to school in their Halloween costumes or even talk about Halloween. The teachers are instructed to change the subject when holidays like Halloween, Valentine’s Day or Christmas are mentioned. Thanksgiving is celebrated at this school.

I think this policy is so wrong! What is wrong with celebrating Halloween and Valentine’s Day?!

Then take it up with your school. In all seriousness, why are you posting about it here?

Our Jewish school celebrates Jewish holidays. The kids also learn about some of the more important civic holidays, like Thanksgiving. Kids wear their Halloween costumes for Purim.

Trust me, not having to deal with Halloween school treats or 20 classroom Valentine gift bags is a blessing.

Nothing's wrong with it but if it's really important to you, then you should have asked when you were shopping for preschools. Presumably the Jewish preschool has just finished with Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah holidays with students and for Purim they'll do the whole costume dress-up thing. As long as no one is reprimanding kids for talking about Halloween or sending kids home if they're wearing a cape or a pumpkin shirt (that would indeed be crazy), then just focus on Halloween stuff in your neighborhood instead of at preschool.

I am not Jewish and I agree with your school's policies.
Most of the holidays (except Thanksgiving) that you listed are pagan-derived.
The whole point of believing in one G-d is not to be pagan.

I think that's a bit strict, OP, but I assume they do a big costume event at Purim to compensate?

It's distracting. I don't know about your school, but our secular preschool didn't allow costumes, but did encourage halloween themed clothing on the day. T-shirt with a pumpkin etc. The kids are little and they will focus on nothing else.

My DD is at a Jewish preschool (we are Jewish) and we just found out that the School doesn’t let the children come to school in their Halloween costumes or even talk about Halloween. The teachers are instructed to change the subject when holidays like Halloween, Valentine’s Day or Christmas are mentioned. Thanksgiving is celebrated at this school.

I think this policy is so wrong! What is wrong with celebrating Halloween and Valentine’s Day?!