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Can I be Jewish for Halloween?
- Thread starter dust1n
- Start date
Curious George
Veteran Member
On a similar note, I am holding a cultures of the world party wherein people all dress up to represent a culture that has transformed the world. No people of Jewish descent are attending other than myself and I am already wearing a headdress, so should I put a disclaimer that no one is allowed to dress to represent Jewish culture by wearing a yarmulke or tzitzit?
Levite
Higher and Higher
It would be acceptable in the sense that you couldn't be arrested for doing it. It wouldn't be acceptable in the sense that it would be offensive to Jews.
No, that seems like it would be okay. Not offensive, as far as I can see.
You have my permission.
dust1n
Zindīq
So it's fine?
dust1n
Zindīq
Thanks. That's definitely something I'll keep in mind if I decide to do it, or if I see anyone else doing it.
Flankerl
Well-Known Member
The **** do I care what you wear for Halloween.
dust1n
Zindīq
Just out of my American obsession of race, if someone were to show up to your costume party in such a way, you wouldn't think much of it? I mean, I realize you don't care what I personally do.
Curious George
Veteran Member
Why? Are you offended by the portrayal of Jewish people in movies by non-Jewish actors? Or is it the way a Jewish person is portrayed and not the act of the portrayal? And if it is the way and not the portrayal itself why would the simple act of wearing a yarmulke and tzitzit be offensive?
Curious George
Veteran Member
And if it is the tzitzit outside of the temple then would just a yarmulke be okay?
dust1n
Zindīq
Fair enough.
Levite
Higher and Higher
A lot depends on the way the Jewish person is portrayed, and the faithfulness of the actor doing the portrayal. But a truly stereotypical media portrayal would be offensive regardless of whether the actor was Jewish; a truly faithful and nuanced portrayal would not be offensive even if the actor were not Jewish. Though I do tend to wish that media portrayals of Jews were more nuanced in general, and that Jewish actors played Jews more frequently.
The problem is not with a non-Jew portraying a Jew in the media, though. Nor is it with a non-Jew dressing up as a Jew for an event celebrating many important cultures, at which all attendees will be there dressed as the cultures whose contributions to the world they wish to respect and celebrate.
It is with a non-Jew dressing up as a Jew for Halloween. A media portrayal (at least in theory) is supposed to be an accurate characterization for the purpose of telling a story-- the character is Jewish, and their Jewishness reflects who they are, regardless of the Jewishness or non-Jewishness of the actor. But dressing up as a Jew for Halloween is demeaning: it is creating a stereotype representation for the purpose of going to a raucous party on a holiday characterized by representing things we find scary, humorous, and/or titillating.
Putting on a kipah (yarmulke) and tzitzit, and any other traditional Jewish garb or accoutrements, for the purposes of joking and mocking and partying is no different than showing up to the party in blackface, in order to come dressed up as a black person.
Just be careful. If you spend too much on the costume you're gonna kill the believability.
Thief
Rogue Theologian
especially if he says ......oy........one too many times
rosends
Well-Known Member
There is nothing illegal about it but I have concerns for two reasons...maybe even three, so bear with me:
1. the vision of "Jewish" reflects only one part of the Jewish spectrum and, as such, smacks of mockery. There are Jews of many colors and shapes, and modes of dress. If you try to look "Jewish" and isolate one portion of the population, you run the risk of appearing to make fun of the standard mode of dress of a community.
2. The things you would put on are actually elements of religious function. Your wearing them isn't about "looking like" the way putting on Superman's cape might be. You are taking items that have ritual significance and making light of them, devaluing them, and, again, appearing to mock them.
3. This is more subtle -- since there are Jews of many colors, shapes and sizes, someone who doesn't know you might think that you might as well actually BE Jewish and therefore, anything you do while dressed like that would reflect on actual Jews. A co-worker tells of a movie shoot in which an actor portrayed a Chasidic man. The shoot was on Saturday and the actor, during a lunch break, ran to MacDonalds for lunch and had a cigarette while waiting in line (it was the 70's). The casual observer doesn't know it is a gag and sees what appears to be a religious Jew breaking Jewish law in many ways. I would ask that you not dress up like this because of the unintentional effects.
So, what would I recommend you dress as? Last costume party I went to, I dressed as Bill Gibson, drummer for Huey Lewis and the News.
Of course, this is just my own POV as an Orthodox Jew.
1. the vision of "Jewish" reflects only one part of the Jewish spectrum and, as such, smacks of mockery. There are Jews of many colors and shapes, and modes of dress. If you try to look "Jewish" and isolate one portion of the population, you run the risk of appearing to make fun of the standard mode of dress of a community.
2. The things you would put on are actually elements of religious function. Your wearing them isn't about "looking like" the way putting on Superman's cape might be. You are taking items that have ritual significance and making light of them, devaluing them, and, again, appearing to mock them.
3. This is more subtle -- since there are Jews of many colors, shapes and sizes, someone who doesn't know you might think that you might as well actually BE Jewish and therefore, anything you do while dressed like that would reflect on actual Jews. A co-worker tells of a movie shoot in which an actor portrayed a Chasidic man. The shoot was on Saturday and the actor, during a lunch break, ran to MacDonalds for lunch and had a cigarette while waiting in line (it was the 70's). The casual observer doesn't know it is a gag and sees what appears to be a religious Jew breaking Jewish law in many ways. I would ask that you not dress up like this because of the unintentional effects.
So, what would I recommend you dress as? Last costume party I went to, I dressed as Bill Gibson, drummer for Huey Lewis and the News.
Of course, this is just my own POV as an Orthodox Jew.
It would be every bit as acceptable as petty and insensitive Jew-baiting.
dust1n
Zindīq
I'm not sure I'm going for believability. I hear that can be dangerous.
dust1n
Zindīq
Thanks, I was looking to see if it was reasonable of me to presume that people at the party, particular Jewish people, would look upon negatively for doing so.
Jeez that's specific. I might go with Laurie Anderson. It remains to be seen.
I appreciate it.