----- Original Message -----
From: "Nehama Barbiru" <nehamab@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Halloween
Daniel Ashkenazy wrote:
Valentine's Day is also a very problematic American event. There is a rich Jewish culture and our religion is full of ideas.
I agree - The Jewish calendar has celebrated 15th of Av long before St.Valentine was even born. It saddens me that many pupils think that the date is only for the song festival by the Kinneret.
But I do think there is room for studying other cultures. A colleague of mine found http://www.holidays.net/ which lists many holidays from around the world. But more importantly, some of the holidays are referred to historically while comparing different traditions from different cultures.
Check out http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/story.htm for example. In this way you don't focus on any one culture and our own heritage is also included.
Nehama
##### To send a message to the ETNI list email: etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ##### ##### Send queries and questions to: ask@xxxxxxxx #####