Do students attend CES Jewish Day School if they are not Jewish?

[Anonymous]

We live very close to the school. We've heard mixed things but still considering looking. FWIW, we are white but not Jewish. This would be for both middle and high schools.

Two related questions:
Can non-Jewish kids gain admission?
What is the social environment like if you are non-Jewish?

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I hope not. I enroll my kids in a jewish school because I want them to make predominantly jewish friends, and to be in an environment where jewish people are the majority.

[Anonymous]

Non-Jewish kids can be admitted if they are "being raised Jewishly," per their webpage FAQ but it's unclear from your post what your relationship/experience is with Judaism?

You might not be aware, but a big chunk of the middle school/high school day there is devoted to religious studies. Not just learning Hebrew as a language but studying the Talmud, etc. It would be a huge opportunity cost for a non-Jewish student unless your child is planning to major in theology or ancient languages or maybe anthropology? But at any rate, I think their focus is really on students who are or who have a goal of practicing Judaism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live very close to the school. We've heard mixed things but still considering looking. FWIW, we are white but not Jewish. This would be for both middle and high schools.

Two related questions:
Can non-Jewish kids gain admission?
What is the social environment like if you are non-Jewish?

Yes, you don't have to be Jewish to be admitted. They'd probably like some diversity.

Just like a Catholic school will be overwhelmingly Catholic, a Jewish school will be overwhelmingly Jewish.

I am Jewish and I think it's sweet you'd consider this. Elon Musk briefly attended a Jewish school as a child.

[Anonymous]

You'll find a lot less non-Jews attending a Jewish Day School than you would non-Catholics at a Catholic School.

How do you feel about Israel? It's especially pertinent these days.

[Anonymous]

Elon Musk briefly attended a Jewish school as a child.

That turned out well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I hope not. I enroll my kids in a jewish school because I want them to make predominantly jewish friends, and to be in an environment where jewish people are the majority.

Wow, that's quite telling. Is this how most feel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I hope not. I enroll my kids in a jewish school because I want them to make predominantly jewish friends, and to be in an environment where jewish people are the majority.

Wow, that's quite telling. Is this how most feel?

It's not remotely surprising. That's why people of specific faiths and traditions send their kids to those schools - not to have a diverse experience - to have a curated one. That's why it's a private school. It's the same for Catholic Schools, all-male, all-female schools, etc. (Though I suppose the Christian schools are more likely to proselytize and therefore try to attract non-believers.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I hope not. I enroll my kids in a jewish school because I want them to make predominantly jewish friends, and to be in an environment where jewish people are the majority.

Wow, that's quite telling. Is this how most feel?

It's not remotely surprising. That's why people of specific faiths and traditions send their kids to those schools - not to have a diverse experience - to have a curated one. That's why it's a private school. It's the same for Catholic Schools, all-male, all-female schools, etc. (Though I suppose the Christian schools are more likely to proselytize and therefore try to attract non-believers.)

I send my kid to a Catholic school and am happy that there is diversity, even though we are practicing Catholics. Private school is enough of a bubble...would prefer my kid be exposed to people of other faiths and ethnicities. But I see what you are saying here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I hope not. I enroll my kids in a jewish school because I want them to make predominantly jewish friends, and to be in an environment where jewish people are the majority.

Wow, that's quite telling. Is this how most feel?

It's not remotely surprising. That's why people of specific faiths and traditions send their kids to those schools - not to have a diverse experience - to have a curated one. That's why it's a private school. It's the same for Catholic Schools, all-male, all-female schools, etc. (Though I suppose the Christian schools are more likely to proselytize and therefore try to attract non-believers.)

I send my kid to a Catholic school and am happy that there is diversity, even though we are practicing Catholics. Private school is enough of a bubble...would prefer my kid be exposed to people of other faiths and ethnicities. But I see what you are saying here.

So why not send your kid to a non secular private?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I hope not. I enroll my kids in a jewish school because I want them to make predominantly jewish friends, and to be in an environment where jewish people are the majority.

Wow, that's quite telling. Is this how most feel?

It's not remotely surprising. That's why people of specific faiths and traditions send their kids to those schools - not to have a diverse experience - to have a curated one. That's why it's a private school. It's the same for Catholic Schools, all-male, all-female schools, etc. (Though I suppose the Christian schools are more likely to proselytize and therefore try to attract non-believers.)

Jesuit schools do not proselytize and they welcome students of other faiths

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I hope not. I enroll my kids in a jewish school because I want them to make predominantly jewish friends, and to be in an environment where jewish people are the majority.

That doesn’t mean it has to be 100% Jewish. What is wrong with you. Seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I hope not. I enroll my kids in a jewish school because I want them to make predominantly jewish friends, and to be in an environment where jewish people are the majority.

Wow, that's quite telling. Is this how most feel?

It's not remotely surprising. That's why people of specific faiths and traditions send their kids to those schools - not to have a diverse experience - to have a curated one. That's why it's a private school. It's the same for Catholic Schools, all-male, all-female schools, etc. (Though I suppose the Christian schools are more likely to proselytize and therefore try to attract non-believers.)

I send my kid to a Catholic school and am happy that there is diversity, even though we are practicing Catholics. Private school is enough of a bubble...would prefer my kid be exposed to people of other faiths and ethnicities. But I see what you are saying here.

There is diversity within Judaism - different forms of practice (reform, conservative, orthodox) and many different groups/nationalities (Sephardic - Ashkenazi - Israeli - Argentinean - Ethiopian...) Not to mention interfaith families.

If you want religious diversity beyond Judaism there are lots of other schools for that. This one has Jewish in the name. It's frankly mystifying that anyone would expect Judaism would not to be a key component of their mission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I hope not. I enroll my kids in a jewish school because I want them to make predominantly jewish friends, and to be in an environment where jewish people are the majority.

Wow, that's quite telling. Is this how most feel?

It's not remotely surprising. That's why people of specific faiths and traditions send their kids to those schools - not to have a diverse experience - to have a curated one. That's why it's a private school. It's the same for Catholic Schools, all-male, all-female schools, etc. (Though I suppose the Christian schools are more likely to proselytize and therefore try to attract non-believers.)

I send my kid to a Catholic school and am happy that there is diversity, even though we are practicing Catholics. Private school is enough of a bubble...would prefer my kid be exposed to people of other faiths and ethnicities. But I see what you are saying here.

So why not send your kid to a non secular private?

Because I want her to have the Catholic faith interwoven in her education. That's not available in a secular private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I hope not. I enroll my kids in a jewish school because I want them to make predominantly jewish friends, and to be in an environment where jewish people are the majority.

Wow, that's quite telling. Is this how most feel?

It's not remotely surprising. That's why people of specific faiths and traditions send their kids to those schools - not to have a diverse experience - to have a curated one. That's why it's a private school. It's the same for Catholic Schools, all-male, all-female schools, etc. (Though I suppose the Christian schools are more likely to proselytize and therefore try to attract non-believers.)

I send my kid to a Catholic school and am happy that there is diversity, even though we are practicing Catholics. Private school is enough of a bubble...would prefer my kid be exposed to people of other faiths and ethnicities. But I see what you are saying here.

There is diversity within Judaism - different forms of practice (reform, conservative, orthodox) and many different groups/nationalities (Sephardic - Ashkenazi - Israeli - Argentinean - Ethiopian...) Not to mention interfaith families.

If you want religious diversity beyond Judaism there are lots of other schools for that. This one has Jewish in the name. It's frankly mystifying that anyone would expect Judaism would not to be a key component of their mission.

And yet people constantly post here seeking Catholic schools that don’t push Catholic values. Welcome to the club.