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

[Anonymous]

OP asked a fair question, and probably did not expect to unleash this response. If you don’t have experience with a local school, it’s fair to ask about it.

Based on the experiences of non-Jewish, non-white friends, many Jewish preschools are welcoming to all. A Jewish day school is so focused on Jewish studies, a non-Jewish family is unlikely to find the education they seek.

In the ultra-orthodox/ ultra conservative Jewish schools, the kids get an inadequate (in my opinion) secular education. The same is true of most ultra-religious schools in a myriad of religions. The local school OP asked about is not one of those, so again, it’s a fair question.

Good luck OP.

[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?

I grew up Jewish in this area and the insular nature of that community was a huge turn off. I definitely preferred my friends who came from all walks of life as it taught me so much about other cultures (Persian, African American, Argentinian, Peruvian, Indian). I ended up marrying a Catholic from South America and we are raising our kids to be good people. I will say the Jewish concept of Tzedakah always stuck with me, but that was more from my families influence and actions than learning in Hebrew School.

What an odd thing to say. I attend a Sephardic shul and there are Jews from every country/culture in which you mentioned.

[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?

I grew up Jewish in this area and the insular nature of that community was a huge turn off. I definitely preferred my friends who came from all walks of life as it taught me so much about other cultures (Persian, African American, Argentinian, Peruvian, Indian). I ended up marrying a Catholic from South America and we are raising our kids to be good people. I will say the Jewish concept of Tzedakah always stuck with me, but that was more from my families influence and actions than learning in Hebrew School.

What an odd thing to say. I attend a Sephardic shul and there are Jews from every country/culture in which you mentioned.

Not really as my friends were Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Catholic.

[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?

I grew up Jewish in this area and the insular nature of that community was a huge turn off. I definitely preferred my friends who came from all walks of life as it taught me so much about other cultures (Persian, African American, Argentinian, Peruvian, Indian). I ended up marrying a Catholic from South America and we are raising our kids to be good people. I will say the Jewish concept of Tzedakah always stuck with me, but that was more from my families influence and actions than learning in Hebrew School.

What an odd thing to say. I attend a Sephardic shul and there are Jews from every country/culture in which you mentioned.

Not really as my friends were Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Catholic.

Fine but your implication that Jews are insular plays into antisemitic tropes. And as a Jewish person yourself you need to be more aware of your messaging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I grew up Jewish in this area and the insular nature of that community was a huge turn off. I definitely preferred my friends who came from all walks of life as it taught me so much about other cultures (Persian, African American, Argentinian, Peruvian, Indian). I ended up marrying a Catholic from South America and we are raising our kids to be good people. I will say the Jewish concept of Tzedakah always stuck with me, but that was more from my families influence and actions than learning in Hebrew School.

What an odd thing to say. I attend a Sephardic shul and there are Jews from every country/culture in which you mentioned.

Not really as my friends were Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Catholic.

Fine but your implication that Jews are insular plays into antisemitic tropes. And as a Jewish person yourself you need to be more aware of your messaging.

Fair enough. I will make sure to try and word things better next time. Thank you for bringing that to my attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I grew up Jewish in this area and the insular nature of that community was a huge turn off. I definitely preferred my friends who came from all walks of life as it taught me so much about other cultures (Persian, African American, Argentinian, Peruvian, Indian). I ended up marrying a Catholic from South America and we are raising our kids to be good people. I will say the Jewish concept of Tzedakah always stuck with me, but that was more from my families influence and actions than learning in Hebrew School.

What an odd thing to say. I attend a Sephardic shul and there are Jews from every country/culture in which you mentioned.

Not really as my friends were Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Catholic.

Fine but your implication that Jews are insular plays into antisemitic tropes. And as a Jewish person yourself you need to be more aware of your messaging.

Fair enough. I will make sure to try and word things better next time. Thank you for bringing that to my attention.

Thank you for taking the feedback constructively! Wishing your kids well in their ventures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Does this matter? I ask because every Jewish person I know seems to have a very different opinion.

You know the old saying: Two Jews, three opinions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Does this matter? I ask because every Jewish person I know seems to have a very different opinion.

It will definitely matter at a Jewish school. You have got to support Israel no matter what. There is no room for dissent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Does this matter? I ask because every Jewish person I know seems to have a very different opinion.

It will definitely matter at a Jewish school. You have got to support Israel no matter what. There is no room for dissent

Please don’t turn this into a Gaza thread. Steering every discussion of American Jewish life to Gaza/Israel is antisemitic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Does this matter? I ask because every Jewish person I know seems to have a very different opinion.

It will definitely matter at a Jewish school. You have got to support Israel no matter what. There is no room for dissent

There may be love for Israel amongst all, but there can certainly be dissent regarding government policies and practices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There may be love for Israel amongst all, but there can certainly be dissent regarding government policies and practices.

Hasn't someone told you already that there's no room for nuanced arguments on DCUM, especially not in the private school forum?

[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.

Imagine saying this about any other group.

You are a bigot.

[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.

Imagine saying this about any other group.

You are a bigot.

That was just a troll.

[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.

This makes me sad and I hope it's not how most people feel. I joined a jewish sorority in college. I am episcopalian but grew up with many jews and always joke I'm a friend of the chosen people. Also, jews are 1% of the world's population, right? And less than 5% in the USA? Don't y'all get bored?

Why would this make you sad? You call yourself an Episcopalian--Episcopalians themselves apart from others to attend Episcopalian churches--does this make you sad? The existences of churches of specific denominations? Are you wringing your hands with worry over their bordom?
The "chosen people" line is a trope that non allies like to tell people that Jewish people say--they don't
--a non Jew who is an ally of Jewish people in this era very deliberately

Using Episcopalians is a bad example. They’re super welcoming of anyone. They’re just glad you’re there.

[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.

This makes me sad and I hope it's not how most people feel. I joined a jewish sorority in college. I am episcopalian but grew up with many jews and always joke I'm a friend of the chosen people. Also, jews are 1% of the world's population, right? And less than 5% in the USA? Don't y'all get bored?

Why would this make you sad? You call yourself an Episcopalian--Episcopalians themselves apart from others to attend Episcopalian churches--does this make you sad? The existences of churches of specific denominations? Are you wringing your hands with worry over their bordom?
The "chosen people" line is a trope that non allies like to tell people that Jewish people say--they don't
--a non Jew who is an ally of Jewish people in this era very deliberately

Using Episcopalians is a bad example. They’re super welcoming of anyone. They’re just glad you’re there.

As long as you bring donuts, like music, and don't talk about religion!