Jewish Preschool

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I agree with this. But, Jews who have an issue with Halloween or Valentine's Day are a distinct minority. Even the quite religious people I know have no issue with these holidays as they view them as secular regardless of the historical roots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I agree with this. But, Jews who have an issue with Halloween or Valentine's Day are a distinct minority. Even the quite religious people I know have no issue with these holidays as they view them as secular regardless of the historical roots.

Yeah. My husband’s uncle didn’t let his kids celebrate those holidays, but everyone else in the family (a Conservadox family) thinks he’s a little much.

[Anonymous]

The pre school sounds cultish. This intense separation from the outside world and blocking of information is one thing cults do

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The pre school sounds cultish. This intense separation from the outside world and blocking of information is one thing cults do

Cult or religious... same difference.

[Anonymous]

I am not Jewish but sent our kids to JCC preschool. Didn’t see ANY issues with not doing Halloween or valentines at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The pre school sounds cultish. This intense separation from the outside world and blocking of information is one thing cults do

Np. Would you call a Catholic school not celebrating Rosh Hashanah a “intense separation from the outside world and blocking of information”? Or the same Jewish preschool not celebrating Christmas? Of course not.

If this school is anything like my child’s Jewish preschool (heck, it might be my child’s Jewish preschool), students are there for two hours where they have lots of other stuff to do, then go home, change into costumes, and do their Halloween activities with family. It’s teally not that big of a deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The pre school sounds cultish. This intense separation from the outside world and blocking of information is one thing cults do

Np. Would you call a Catholic school not celebrating Rosh Hashanah a “intense separation from the outside world and blocking of information”? Or the same Jewish preschool not celebrating Christmas? Of course not.

If this school is anything like my child’s Jewish preschool (heck, it might be my child’s Jewish preschool), students are there for two hours where they have lots of other stuff to do, then go home, change into costumes, and do their Halloween activities with family. It’s teally not that big of a deal.

My son goes to a Catholic school and learns about Jewish and Muslim holidays on the holiday.

But you really can’t compare a child’s participation in Halloween to a child’s participation in Halloween!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The pre school sounds cultish. This intense separation from the outside world and blocking of information is one thing cults do

Np. Would you call a Catholic school not celebrating Rosh Hashanah a “intense separation from the outside world and blocking of information”? Or the same Jewish preschool not celebrating Christmas? Of course not.

If this school is anything like my child’s Jewish preschool (heck, it might be my child’s Jewish preschool), students are there for two hours where they have lots of other stuff to do, then go home, change into costumes, and do their Halloween activities with family. It’s teally not that big of a deal.

My son goes to a Catholic school and learns about Jewish and Muslim holidays on the holiday.

But you really can’t compare a child’s participation in Halloween to a child’s participation in Halloween!

I know it’s getting annoying to hear about privilege these days but there is a difference when a majority learns about a minority’s traditions. the minority religions are already inundated with Christianity everywhere on a daily basis but they have limited space to have their religion and one of these spaces is their religiously affiliated preschool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The pre school sounds cultish. This intense separation from the outside world and blocking of information is one thing cults do

Intense separation? Blocking information? Exaggerate much? The preschool doesn't celebrate a holiday with pagan/Catholic roots. That seems totally reasonable; some Jews do celebrate those things, but others do not. I'm sure the school is aware that the kids hear/learn about these holidays in other ways. Just like some Jews put up Christmas trees, but I wouldn't expect to see one at the JCC.

[Anonymous]

Our local public schools don't celebrate Halloween either because of large numbers of Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, and Pentecostal Christians in the system who would keep their children home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The pre school sounds cultish. This intense separation from the outside world and blocking of information is one thing cults do

Intense separation? Blocking information? Exaggerate much? The preschool doesn't celebrate a holiday with pagan/Catholic roots. That seems totally reasonable; some Jews do celebrate those things, but others do not. I'm sure the school is aware that the kids hear/learn about these holidays in other ways. Just like some Jews put up Christmas trees, but I wouldn't expect to see one at the JCC.

Seriously. I think PP has never been to a JCC. This isn't like Orthodox Jewish sects that forbid kids from learning anything but the Torah.