Jewish Preschool

[Anonymous]

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.

You're the type of person who says "why can't everyone just say Merry Christmas? it's just part of our culture now." While we are Jewish and celebrate Halloween and Valentine's Day, to criticize people who recognize the roots of the holidays and don't want to participate is to devalue the origins of these holidays and the significance of someone's religious convictions. Halloween has pagan roots and Valentine's Day has Christian roots. We are not at a JCC preschool, but our local JCC has the same policy. So did my husband's cousins' Jewish day school.

I assume you also think it's no big deal that Christmas is a federal holiday, but that's a whole other discussion ...

[Anonymous]

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.

Then don’t enroll your child there. That’s the great thing about private preschools. They make the rules they want to follow (outside of licensing rule) and if you don’t like them, then don’t go there.

[Anonymous]

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.

Why exactly did you choose a Jewish preschool, may I ask?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You're the type of person who says "why can't everyone just say Merry Christmas? it's just part of our culture now." While we are Jewish and celebrate Halloween and Valentine's Day, to criticize people who recognize the roots of the holidays and don't want to participate is to devalue the origins of these holidays and the significance of someone's religious convictions. Halloween has pagan roots and Valentine's Day has Christian roots. We are not at a JCC preschool, but our local JCC has the same policy. So did my husband's cousins' Jewish day school.

I assume you also think it's no big deal that Christmas is a federal holiday, but that's a whole other discussion ...

You are wrong about me, PP. First, I am Jewish and have no issues with holiday greeting of any kind. It bugs me to no end that Christmas is a national holiday.

That said, I want my children to be “in the world and if the world” and to be Americans as well as Jewish. Halloween and Valentines Day are so far removed from pagan and Christian rituals as you can get. They are just American kid holidays now.

Inclusion not exclusion. Celebrate any American or other religions holiday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You're the type of person who says "why can't everyone just say Merry Christmas? it's just part of our culture now." While we are Jewish and celebrate Halloween and Valentine's Day, to criticize people who recognize the roots of the holidays and don't want to participate is to devalue the origins of these holidays and the significance of someone's religious convictions. Halloween has pagan roots and Valentine's Day has Christian roots. We are not at a JCC preschool, but our local JCC has the same policy. So did my husband's cousins' Jewish day school.

I assume you also think it's no big deal that Christmas is a federal holiday, but that's a whole other discussion ...

You are wrong about me, PP. First, I am Jewish and have no issues with holiday greeting of any kind. It bugs me to no end that Christmas is a national holiday.

That said, I want my children to be “in the world and if the world” and to be Americans as well as Jewish. Halloween and Valentines Day are so far removed from pagan and Christian rituals as you can get. They are just American kid holidays now.

Inclusion not exclusion. Celebrate any American or other religions holiday.

Ok, so if you want maximum inclusion, you don't send your kids to a religious preschool. I just don't have a problem with a preschool that openly embraces a particular religion to not want to participate in holidays that don't derive from that religion. It isn't the "American Jewish Community Center," it's the "Jewish Community Center."

[Anonymous]

I am curious as to why some people think it a parent should not question some policies.
When you visit someone, you follow the custom of the house, and in a land, the way of the land.
Surely nobody can live on India and shut out everything related to Hinduism from their life.
Just enjoy a holiday when you can. No need to worry about whether the neighbors approve or not. This world has enough misery

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am curious as to why some people think it a parent should not question some policies.
When you visit someone, you follow the custom of the house, and in a land, the way of the land.
Surely nobody can live on India and shut out everything related to Hinduism from their life.
Just enjoy a holiday when you can. No need to worry about whether the neighbors approve or not. This world has enough misery

She can question the policy but as a private school, the school can do what it wants. I would be very surprised to hear of a Jewish preschool that celebrated Halloween. As the pp’s said, the kids can celebrate at home but not at school. If they are only going to Jewish preschool and then public elementary, they will have many school celebrations in the years ahead. Op can also find a different secular preschool and move her kids if celebrating Halloween and Valentine’s Day is that important to her.

[Anonymous]

Of course the school can do as it wants but kids love Halloween! It’s not like the kids won’t be trick or treating after school anyway - at least my kids in Jewish schools are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am curious as to why some people think it a parent should not question some policies.
When you visit someone, you follow the custom of the house, and in a land, the way of the land.
Surely nobody can live on India and shut out everything related to Hinduism from their life.
Just enjoy a holiday when you can. No need to worry about whether the neighbors approve or not. This world has enough misery

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

If you're not Jewish, why did you spell G-d like that? I thought that was strictly a Jewish practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

If you're not Jewish, why did you spell G-d like that? I thought that was strictly a Jewish practice.

Out of respect for you all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

If you're not Jewish, why did you spell G-d like that? I thought that was strictly a Jewish practice.

Out of respect for you all.

Jew here. It’s God.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You're the type of person who says "why can't everyone just say Merry Christmas? it's just part of our culture now." While we are Jewish and celebrate Halloween and Valentine's Day, to criticize people who recognize the roots of the holidays and don't want to participate is to devalue the origins of these holidays and the significance of someone's religious convictions. Halloween has pagan roots and Valentine's Day has Christian roots. We are not at a JCC preschool, but our local JCC has the same policy. So did my husband's cousins' Jewish day school.

I assume you also think it's no big deal that Christmas is a federal holiday, but that's a whole other discussion ...

You are wrong about me, PP. First, I am Jewish and have no issues with holiday greeting of any kind. It bugs me to no end that Christmas is a national holiday.

That said, I want my children to be “in the world and if the world” and to be Americans as well as Jewish. Halloween and Valentines Day are so far removed from pagan and Christian rituals as you can get. They are just American kid holidays now.

Inclusion not exclusion. Celebrate any American or other religions holiday.

Don’t worry, OP, your kids are still in and of the world if their preschool doesn’t observe Valentine’s Day or Halloween. My kids went/go to a Jewish preschool and it’s NBD. They come home and celebrate here in our house and with neighborhood friends. This is a silly thing to get bent out of shape over.

[Anonymous]

You are more than welcome to celebrate Halloween and Valentines Day at home, it’s not like they’re going to kick you out of the preschool for it. But while you may be comfortable celebrating those holidays, not all Jewish people are, and if the preschool is trying to be a welcoming and comfortable place for all Jews, it will respect those different beliefs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

If you're not Jewish, why did you spell G-d like that? I thought that was strictly a Jewish practice.

Out of respect for you all.

Jew here. It’s God.

Not for most Jews.