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

[Anonymous]

From the CESJDS Website FAQ's:

CESJDS welcomes any student who is being raised Jewishly. This includes families who are entirely Jewish, interfaith families, and families in the process of choosing to be Jewish. As a pluralistic school, we partner with families from many different backgrounds who are all raising their children as Jews and who are committed to providing their children with an outstanding and inspiring independent, pluralistic Jewish day school education.

To me, this says non-Jews need not apply.

[Anonymous]

1/2 the day is spent on Judaic/Hebrew studies. I have a hard time understanding why a non Jew or someone not at least considering converting would want to devote so much time to this study.

[Anonymous]

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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

She's not asking to attend Jewish services, but to attend a Jewish school. Of course Episcopalians attend their churches and Jews their synagogues. You use Episcopalian as an example, but you do realize that Episcopalian schools are welcoming to all faiths, including Jews.

Jewish school only being open to Jewish kids is not a problem. The school (in part) teaches people to be about (not just learn about) the faith. If you are not there to be about the faith it doesn't make any sense to be there.

That's not true. Sometimes it's the best educational option in the area. Or very convenient geographically. Or the family wants to explore judaism a little. I know a family like that, 4/5 of the kids ended up Christian, one converted to judaism.

It can't be convenient or the best educational experience if you have no use for it, that is an impossibility. You issue seems to be "why do they dare have their own little thing."

"No use for it" is a rather subjective judgement.

Ok now you are on the kick of going to have a slick comeback for everything, not in good faith. Your goal here is to irritate people who want to to have a practical discussion about Jewish schools as the way they are (and do not consider what they are doing wrong).

You can certainly start your own thread for criticisms of Jewish schools, but I was responding to the topic brought up by the op.

We get it, Jews are selfish, not open like others. Thank you for your education of us this afternoon.

Jews don't recruit and convert people. If you want to be Jewish, it has to be 100% your choice and you'd need to convert. It's a very different culture. Also, many who choose a Jewish school tend to be conservative or orthodox and its a very different culture from reformed.

You don’t need to be Jewish to want to raise your child in the Jewish culture.

It doesn't exactly work like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the CESJDS Website FAQ's:

CESJDS welcomes any student who is being raised Jewishly. This includes families who are entirely Jewish, interfaith families, and families in the process of choosing to be Jewish. As a pluralistic school, we partner with families from many different backgrounds who are all raising their children as Jews and who are committed to providing their children with an outstanding and inspiring independent, pluralistic Jewish day school education.

To me, this says non-Jews need not apply.

The actual translation is we will accept the child of a Jewish dad and a non-Jewish mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the CESJDS Website FAQ's:

CESJDS welcomes any student who is being raised Jewishly. This includes families who are entirely Jewish, interfaith families, and families in the process of choosing to be Jewish. As a pluralistic school, we partner with families from many different backgrounds who are all raising their children as Jews and who are committed to providing their children with an outstanding and inspiring independent, pluralistic Jewish day school education.

To me, this says non-Jews need not apply.

Didn't say that anywhere.

Jewish person here, I really don't get the whole issue. Elon musk went to a Jewish school. He's not Jewish. If op applied to my school, they'd be welcomed with open arms.

Anyone can learn about judaism, and plenty of ignorant people don't know anything about judaism. Like the ones who think that only Jews could possibly be interested in judaism.

[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.

And I enroll my kids in MCPS but they still have no class on Jewish holidays. Funny how that works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

As catholic as a catholic school may be, a Jewish school will be exponentially more Jewish. I'm Jewish and I'd sooner send my kids to a catholic school than a Jewish one. Too much religious education, not enough time for regular education. Too narrowing an experience (based on my friends who attended a Jewish school, which admittedly was a long time ago).

This is why we as a proud Jewish family aren’t sending our kids to day school. Our kids didn’t want to spend half the day on Hebrew and Jewish history. That said, if you look at college matriculations of non yeshiva Jewish day schools, the students are going to all of the top universities like any secular private.

My kids do go to Jewish overnight camp (an experience I highly recommend).

A Jewish day school isn’t going to bend their curriculum to be more “inclusive”. The New Testament will be taught as a history lesson and not a religious experience. That said, a non Jewish family who wants to embrace Jewish culture, language and traditions would absolutely be welcomed at CES or Milton. The PP should open her arms up to those who embrace us.

[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?

Apparently but they still want us to close the public schools for their holidays.

[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.

And I enroll my kids in MCPS but they still have no class on Jewish holidays. Funny how that works.

Your children do not have school on RH or YK but they do have school on sukkot and simchas torah. Spring break in MCPS is tied to Easter Monday, not pesach. It is so nice to not have to pack lunches on pesach and to be given the time off to travel to be with family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the CESJDS Website FAQ's:

CESJDS welcomes any student who is being raised Jewishly. This includes families who are entirely Jewish, interfaith families, and families in the process of choosing to be Jewish. As a pluralistic school, we partner with families from many different backgrounds who are all raising their children as Jews and who are committed to providing their children with an outstanding and inspiring independent, pluralistic Jewish day school education.

To me, this says non-Jews need not apply.

Didn't say that anywhere.

Jewish person here, I really don't get the whole issue. Elon musk went to a Jewish school. He's not Jewish. If op applied to my school, they'd be welcomed with open arms.

Anyone can learn about judaism, and plenty of ignorant people don't know anything about judaism. Like the ones who think that only Jews could possibly be interested in judaism.

I think there is a difference between learning about Judaism and being immersed in it. Of course anyone is welcome to learn about Judaism. But to live and breathe it 5 days a week when it’s a foreign culture to your family, is a lot.

[Anonymous]

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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

She's not asking to attend Jewish services, but to attend a Jewish school. Of course Episcopalians attend their churches and Jews their synagogues. You use Episcopalian as an example, but you do realize that Episcopalian schools are welcoming to all faiths, including Jews.

Jewish school only being open to Jewish kids is not a problem. The school (in part) teaches people to be about (not just learn about) the faith. If you are not there to be about the faith it doesn't make any sense to be there.

That's not true. Sometimes it's the best educational option in the area. Or very convenient geographically. Or the family wants to explore judaism a little. I know a family like that, 4/5 of the kids ended up Christian, one converted to judaism.

It can't be convenient or the best educational experience if you have no use for it, that is an impossibility. You issue seems to be "why do they dare have their own little thing."

"No use for it" is a rather subjective judgement.

Ok now you are on the kick of going to have a slick comeback for everything, not in good faith. Your goal here is to irritate people who want to to have a practical discussion about Jewish schools as the way they are (and do not consider what they are doing wrong).

You can certainly start your own thread for criticisms of Jewish schools, but I was responding to the topic brought up by the op.

We get it, Jews are selfish, not open like others. Thank you for your education of us this afternoon.

Jews don't recruit and convert people. If you want to be Jewish, it has to be 100% your choice and you'd need to convert. It's a very different culture. Also, many who choose a Jewish school tend to be conservative or orthodox and its a very different culture from reformed.

You don’t need to be Jewish to want to raise your child in the Jewish culture.

It doesn't exactly work like that.

Don’t be ridiculous, any child can be raised Jewish.

[Anonymous]

There seem to be three kinds of posters in this thread:

1. Reactive posters who say don't go regardless of what the website statement says.

2. Well meaning posters who either don't read the website statement or read their own progressivism and tolerance into it, and say to go.

3. Those who actually read the website statement and understand that it lists Jewish families, mixed families and families considering conversion only. In other words, as Kamala Harris once said, "no venga."

OP, you have your answer. It's not for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There seem to be three kinds of posters in this thread:

1. Reactive posters who say don't go regardless of what the website statement says.

2. Well meaning posters who either don't read the website statement or read their own progressivism and tolerance into it, and say to go.

3. Those who actually read the website statement and understand that it lists Jewish families, mixed families and families considering conversion only. In other words, as Kamala Harris once said, "no venga."

OP, you have your answer. It's not for you.

OP here. Thanks for the clarity!

[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.

And I enroll my kids in MCPS but they still have no class on Jewish holidays. Funny how that works.

Your children do not have school on RH or YK but they do have school on sukkot and simchas torah. Spring break in MCPS is tied to Easter Monday, not pesach. It is so nice to not have to pack lunches on pesach and to be given the time off to travel to be with family.

Who cares about any of these holidays??

[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.

And I enroll my kids in MCPS but they still have no class on Jewish holidays. Funny how that works.

Your children do not have school on RH or YK but they do have school on sukkot and simchas torah. Spring break in MCPS is tied to Easter Monday, not pesach. It is so nice to not have to pack lunches on pesach and to be given the time off to travel to be with family.

Who cares about any of these holidays??

Jews?