Jewish at Boston College

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you can't fathom a world where everyone isn't out to get you, then it's better to stay in your own safe bubble. Why even think about going to a place where you think you're going to be unwelcome, especially since there are dozens of similar schools that exist?

OP here. What a weird comment. Who said anything about wanting to stay in a bubble? The whole point of this post is that DC is interested in BC.

We are not assuming in any way that DC will be unwelcome. We are merely seeking first-hand experience from those who have kids at BC - Hewish and job-Jewish alike.

(On the topic of weird comments, I’m struck by how many people weighed in with their own opinions of what they’d do if they were DC - based not on personal experience as a BC student or parent - but based on their own assumptions or fears. This is EXACTLY what we’re trying to avoid, of course.

Our family is very open-minded and comfortable in diverse environments. We’re not fearful or seeking a bubble. What we’re looking for is relevant, first-hand experience - not conjecture or projection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m amazed that the crosses in classrooms are such a big deal. They stand for peace & compassion. They are a reminder of ideals just about anyone could be inspired by. They AREN’T a rallying cry to kick non-Catholics’ asses.

They’re not a big deal. Again, that’s just some people’s projections or false assumptions about what MIGHT be uncomfortable for a Jewish student. Different kids are different. Our Jewish DC is completely unphased.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our Jewish DC is a current student at BC. Exactly zero issues, no antisemitism experienced. Jewish professors for 2 of 5 classes first semester freshman year. Several peaceful vigils for Israel and the hostages in the weeks that followed Oct 7. Took an excellent course focused on conflict in the Middle East last year: very engaged, civil discussion. Does not participate in Hillel but has friends who do. Chestnut Hill/Newton/Brookline have sizable Jewish populations, FYI. Attended a holiday service at Sinai Brookline and found it welcoming

OP here. Thank you! 👍

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:BC is a very welcoming place - not super diverse admittedly (neither are most towns in metro Boston, by the way). The community and camaraderie are excellent. Jesuit education is great for lifelong learners and they care about fostering students to become good people who will graduate and live a life that is compassionate to others and helps others. Lots of school spirit for sports. Non-Catholic alum.

Will add here that political or social activism is not part of the school culture at BC. Never a single protest or rally in the time I was there. The student body is predominantly (and selected to be) outgoing, well rounded, open minded kids who do well in school but also have other interests.

Yes - I [b]believe there were crucifixes in classes. They are not huge, they are not revered...they are just there. I didn't feel impacted by them any more than I would feel affected by a mezuzah at every entrance. To me these are no different than having churches, mosques, synagogues in my community.

Via education and my career, I have been part of several college communities. The Jesuit ones at BC and Georgetown were the most explicitly open and welcoming - facing head on the acceptance of all (and with no religious rhetoric - the Jesuits are all about education and learning and caring for each other and the world). At other secular institutions, there was far less care for community and acceptance - only reactionary (and sometimes lack of) responses to "incidents". Little guidance on having students leave with a moral compass.

OP - if your DC loves BC - please let them consider it.

The most salient point made of any of the PPs is how you (and your child) feel about dating outside of your faith and how religious they will want to be. If attending regular services is important, Brighton and Brookline will provide a selection of synagogues and congregations that should be easy to attend using the shuttle, T, or even walking. Newton Campus also has multiple within walking distance. Your child will not be surrounded by many Jewish students but I'm sure they will find them via Hillel.

On that point - reach out to BC Hillel and find some students to talk to. I guarantee you will find students willing to share and gush about their school. It's that sort of place.

We had divestment protests and encampments in my day. Protests are part of the social justice movement and wouldn’t be out of place on campus.

And the crucifix comment is odd. Not revered? Do you think Catholics kneel before every cross? I’m not sure if you’re an alum, but if you are, this is a big misreading of Catholic religion and culture.

I think anyone of any faith would be welcome at BC. I think BC is still pretty provincial - I wouldn’t send a trans kid there for example. But generally welcoming. But spending 4 years on a Catholic campus and not being open to learning about Catholic culture seems weird to me.

I noted this because others comments about a "crucifix being present" was so off base to how that plays out in day to day life in a classroom. It had zero impact.

Are you Jewish? Because it’s not whether people are bowing to a crucifix that’s the issue for some people (obviously not everyone).

Think about your least favorite politician or celebrity and imagine if a picture of that person was in every single classroom— and rather than argue with me about the analogy just try to learn something from it.

It’s a private Catholic college and you’re offended that there are crosses? Wow. That’s ignorant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BC is a very welcoming place - not super diverse admittedly (neither are most towns in metro Boston, by the way). The community and camaraderie are excellent. Jesuit education is great for lifelong learners and they care about fostering students to become good people who will graduate and live a life that is compassionate to others and helps others. Lots of school spirit for sports. Non-Catholic alum.

Will add here that political or social activism is not part of the school culture at BC. Never a single protest or rally in the time I was there. The student body is predominantly (and selected to be) outgoing, well rounded, open minded kids who do well in school but also have other interests.

Yes - I [b]believe there were crucifixes in classes. They are not huge, they are not revered...they are just there. I didn't feel impacted by them any more than I would feel affected by a mezuzah at every entrance. To me these are no different than having churches, mosques, synagogues in my community.

Via education and my career, I have been part of several college communities. The Jesuit ones at BC and Georgetown were the most explicitly open and welcoming - facing head on the acceptance of all (and with no religious rhetoric - the Jesuits are all about education and learning and caring for each other and the world). At other secular institutions, there was far less care for community and acceptance - only reactionary (and sometimes lack of) responses to "incidents". Little guidance on having students leave with a moral compass.

OP - if your DC loves BC - please let them consider it.

The most salient point made of any of the PPs is how you (and your child) feel about dating outside of your faith and how religious they will want to be. If attending regular services is important, Brighton and Brookline will provide a selection of synagogues and congregations that should be easy to attend using the shuttle, T, or even walking. Newton Campus also has multiple within walking distance. Your child will not be surrounded by many Jewish students but I'm sure they will find them via Hillel.

On that point - reach out to BC Hillel and find some students to talk to. I guarantee you will find students willing to share and gush about their school. It's that sort of place.

We had divestment protests and encampments in my day. Protests are part of the social justice movement and wouldn’t be out of place on campus.

And the crucifix comment is odd. Not revered? Do you think Catholics kneel before every cross? I’m not sure if you’re an alum, but if you are, this is a big misreading of Catholic religion and culture.

I think anyone of any faith would be welcome at BC. I think BC is still pretty provincial - I wouldn’t send a trans kid there for example. But generally welcoming. But spending 4 years on a Catholic campus and not being open to learning about Catholic culture seems weird to me.

I noted this because others comments about a "crucifix being present" was so off base to how that plays out in day to day life in a classroom. It had zero impact.

Are you Jewish? Because it’s not whether people are bowing to a crucifix that’s the issue for some people (obviously not everyone).

Think about your least favorite politician or celebrity and imagine if a picture of that person was in every single classroom— and rather than argue with me about the analogy just try to learn something from it.

It’s a private Catholic college and you’re offended that there are crosses? Wow. That’s ignorant.

NP- Of course it's a private Catholic college and crosses are to be expected. It also means some Jewish students (not all, maybe not even many...we're not all the same!) might not be comfortable because of it. That is all. My own dd is applying to a couple Jesuit schools, but I understand not everyone would feel at ease with it. If your default is Christianity, it might not even be something on your mind at all, but other religions might feel differently and would definitely at least weigh the religious aspect if not the crosses specifically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because it's hard enough being in a minority (Jewish), why send your child to a school where they will be a super-minority when there are so many other excellent options? Would never send our Jewish kids to BC, ND and the like

Less anti semitism at those schools in recent years than at some colleges that have large jewish and large muslim student bodies. You would be surprised. Ask people with kids at Harvard, Penn, Columbia, Cornell and others that have a high Jewish population. They feel very unwelcomed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BC is a very welcoming place - not super diverse admittedly (neither are most towns in metro Boston, by the way). The community and camaraderie are excellent. Jesuit education is great for lifelong learners and they care about fostering students to become good people who will graduate and live a life that is compassionate to others and helps others. Lots of school spirit for sports. Non-Catholic alum.

Will add here that political or social activism is not part of the school culture at BC. Never a single protest or rally in the time I was there. The student body is predominantly (and selected to be) outgoing, well rounded, open minded kids who do well in school but also have other interests.

Yes - I [b]believe there were crucifixes in classes. They are not huge, they are not revered...they are just there. I didn't feel impacted by them any more than I would feel affected by a mezuzah at every entrance. To me these are no different than having churches, mosques, synagogues in my community.

Via education and my career, I have been part of several college communities. The Jesuit ones at BC and Georgetown were the most explicitly open and welcoming - facing head on the acceptance of all (and with no religious rhetoric - the Jesuits are all about education and learning and caring for each other and the world). At other secular institutions, there was far less care for community and acceptance - only reactionary (and sometimes lack of) responses to "incidents". Little guidance on having students leave with a moral compass.

OP - if your DC loves BC - please let them consider it.

The most salient point made of any of the PPs is how you (and your child) feel about dating outside of your faith and how religious they will want to be. If attending regular services is important, Brighton and Brookline will provide a selection of synagogues and congregations that should be easy to attend using the shuttle, T, or even walking. Newton Campus also has multiple within walking distance. Your child will not be surrounded by many Jewish students but I'm sure they will find them via Hillel.

On that point - reach out to BC Hillel and find some students to talk to. I guarantee you will find students willing to share and gush about their school. It's that sort of place.

We had divestment protests and encampments in my day. Protests are part of the social justice movement and wouldn’t be out of place on campus.

And the crucifix comment is odd. Not revered? Do you think Catholics kneel before every cross? I’m not sure if you’re an alum, but if you are, this is a big misreading of Catholic religion and culture.

I think anyone of any faith would be welcome at BC. I think BC is still pretty provincial - I wouldn’t send a trans kid there for example. But generally welcoming. But spending 4 years on a Catholic campus and not being open to learning about Catholic culture seems weird to me.

I noted this because others comments about a "crucifix being present" was so off base to how that plays out in day to day life in a classroom. It had zero impact.

Are you Jewish? Because it’s not whether people are bowing to a crucifix that’s the issue for some people (obviously not everyone).

Think about your least favorite politician or celebrity and imagine if a picture of that person was in every single classroom— and rather than argue with me about the analogy just try to learn something from it.

It’s a private Catholic college and you’re offended that there are crosses? Wow. That’s ignorant.

NP- Of course it's a private Catholic college and crosses are to be expected. It also means some Jewish students (not all, maybe not even many...we're not all the same!) might not be comfortable because of it. That is all. My own dd is applying to a couple Jesuit schools, but I understand not everyone would feel at ease with it. If your default is Christianity, it might not even be something on your mind at all, but other religions might feel differently and would definitely at least weigh the religious aspect if not the crosses specifically.

If you're not comfortable with crosses then you definitely shouldn't go. And there's a lot more too it than that. They actually have (ominous music plays) Jesuits in residence. You will see them on campus!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BC is a very welcoming place - not super diverse admittedly (neither are most towns in metro Boston, by the way). The community and camaraderie are excellent. Jesuit education is great for lifelong learners and they care about fostering students to become good people who will graduate and live a life that is compassionate to others and helps others. Lots of school spirit for sports. Non-Catholic alum.

Will add here that political or social activism is not part of the school culture at BC. Never a single protest or rally in the time I was there. The student body is predominantly (and selected to be) outgoing, well rounded, open minded kids who do well in school but also have other interests.

Yes - I [b]believe there were crucifixes in classes. They are not huge, they are not revered...they are just there. I didn't feel impacted by them any more than I would feel affected by a mezuzah at every entrance. To me these are no different than having churches, mosques, synagogues in my community.

Via education and my career, I have been part of several college communities. The Jesuit ones at BC and Georgetown were the most explicitly open and welcoming - facing head on the acceptance of all (and with no religious rhetoric - the Jesuits are all about education and learning and caring for each other and the world). At other secular institutions, there was far less care for community and acceptance - only reactionary (and sometimes lack of) responses to "incidents". Little guidance on having students leave with a moral compass.

OP - if your DC loves BC - please let them consider it.

The most salient point made of any of the PPs is how you (and your child) feel about dating outside of your faith and how religious they will want to be. If attending regular services is important, Brighton and Brookline will provide a selection of synagogues and congregations that should be easy to attend using the shuttle, T, or even walking. Newton Campus also has multiple within walking distance. Your child will not be surrounded by many Jewish students but I'm sure they will find them via Hillel.

On that point - reach out to BC Hillel and find some students to talk to. I guarantee you will find students willing to share and gush about their school. It's that sort of place.

We had divestment protests and encampments in my day. Protests are part of the social justice movement and wouldn’t be out of place on campus.

And the crucifix comment is odd. Not revered? Do you think Catholics kneel before every cross? I’m not sure if you’re an alum, but if you are, this is a big misreading of Catholic religion and culture.

I think anyone of any faith would be welcome at BC. I think BC is still pretty provincial - I wouldn’t send a trans kid there for example. But generally welcoming. But spending 4 years on a Catholic campus and not being open to learning about Catholic culture seems weird to me.

I noted this because others comments about a "crucifix being present" was so off base to how that plays out in day to day life in a classroom. It had zero impact.

Are you Jewish? Because it’s not whether people are bowing to a crucifix that’s the issue for some people (obviously not everyone).

Think about your least favorite politician or celebrity and imagine if a picture of that person was in every single classroom— and rather than argue with me about the analogy just try to learn something from it.

It’s a private Catholic college and you’re offended that there are crosses? Wow. That’s ignorant.

NP- Of course it's a private Catholic college and crosses are to be expected. It also means some Jewish students (not all, maybe not even many...we're not all the same!) might not be comfortable because of it. That is all. My own dd is applying to a couple Jesuit schools, but I understand not everyone would feel at ease with it. If your default is Christianity, it might not even be something on your mind at all, but other religions might feel differently and would definitely at least weigh the religious aspect if not the crosses specifically.

If you're not comfortable with crosses then you definitely shouldn't go. And there's a lot more too it than that. They actually have (ominous music plays) Jesuits in residence. You will see them on campus!

And you will have them as teachers in a few classes. FWIW, my Jesuit professors would all be ranked among the best teachers I had. They are excellent scholars and teachers.

[Anonymous]

I went to a university in Canada for a master’s degree. There were quite a few Canadian flags there. It never occurred to me that they were an indication that I was supposed to be learning to play hockey or that I should start saying “eh” all the time. The flags were a respectful acknowledgment of who had founded the college & were keeping it running

[Anonymous]

Would not recommend for even a culturally Jewish non-observant kid. Most kids are coming from Catholic prep schools. Your kid will feel very isolated. It is a conservative school so there's not antisemitism per se but most students have never spent time with kids who aren't Catholic. In generally, I would not recommend this school unless your kid went to a top Catholic prep school. They will be a fish out of water.

[Anonymous]

Boston College is less than 1% Jewish. That's like being a non-mormon at BYU. why woukd you pick that. My sister did and forever regretted it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would not recommend for even a culturally Jewish non-observant kid. Most kids are coming from Catholic prep schools. Your kid will feel very isolated. It is a conservative school so there's not antisemitism per se but most students have never spent time with kids who aren't Catholic. In generally, I would not recommend this school unless your kid went to a top Catholic prep school. They will be a fish out of water.

Conservatives are very welcoming to Jews. It’s the liberals who are raging anti-Semitic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Boston College is less than 1% Jewish. That's like being a non-mormon at BYU. why woukd you pick that. My sister did and forever regretted it

Apples and oranges. Mormons are not open to other religions whereas Jesuit Catholics are welcome to all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boston College is less than 1% Jewish. That's like being a non-mormon at BYU. why woukd you pick that. My sister did and forever regretted it

Apples and oranges. Mormons are not open to other religions whereas Jesuit Catholics are welcome to all.

BYU is open to other religions. Most kids from other religions just don't apply. It's usually around 5 Jewish students total. BC has 89 Jewish students. 89 is better than 5, but it is still a very small percentage. It's fine to not be comfortable with that, and also fine to not care, but definitely important to know!

[Anonymous]

Is it about the number of Jewish students or whether they feel welcome and safe. Because there are plenty of schools with more Jewish kids where anti-semitism runs rampant.