Adas Israel Preschool and threats of violence

[Anonymous]

We are looking in to preschools for next year for my son. I'm Jewish and my husband is not. We've agreed to raise our son Jewish and he has had a bris. I just went to the open house for the Gan and was very impressed. My husband is hesitant to send him because of the rampant anti-Semitism as of late and he thinks the risk might be too high. I'm not dismissing my husband's concerns at all but I'm Jewish so I might be biased in favor of a Jewish preschool. My son will be 2.5 in the fall and there aren't many all day options for us the Jewish preschools seem to have an all day option and Adas is the most convenient for us. I'm also looking at the DC JCC, Little Flower and Amazing Life Games. I was also thinking about Washington Hebrew even though it wasn't very convenient because the cost was much lower but now with its scandal it is off my list.

Did anyone else make a choice to send or not send their child to a Jewish preschool because of the threat of anti-Semitic violence?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are looking in to preschools for next year for my son. I'm Jewish and my husband is not. We've agreed to raise our son Jewish and he has had a bris. I just went to the open house for the Gan and was very impressed. My husband is hesitant to send him because of the rampant anti-Semitism as of late and he thinks the risk might be too high. I'm not dismissing my husband's concerns at all but I'm Jewish so I might be biased in favor of a Jewish preschool. My son will be 2.5 in the fall and there aren't many all day options for us the Jewish preschools seem to have an all day option and Adas is the most convenient for us. I'm also looking at the DC JCC, Little Flower and Amazing Life Games. I was also thinking about Washington Hebrew even though it wasn't very convenient because the cost was much lower but now with its scandal it is off my list.

Did anyone else make a choice to send or not send their child to a Jewish preschool because of the threat of anti-Semitic violence?

your kid is more likely to be hurt by a maryland driver while crossing the street on Connecticut Avenue than by an antisemitic mamzer at Adas pre-school.

[Anonymous]

My kids go to Jewish preschool. My son was evacuated 2 years ago during that strong of threats. I don't want fear to rule my life or theirs. Rmw Jewish preschools are pretty aware of security, more so than many of the secular ones. Things can happen anywhere. A DV situation could happen or a disgruntled employee could do something at a non jewish school too.

[Anonymous]

When your son gets to kindergarten, he will go through active shooter drills. Any place people gather is a potential target these days. I wouldn’t let that deter me from sending my child to a Jewish preschool.

[Anonymous]

I would speak to each school to find out how they handle security, carpool etc. Frankly, these are conversations to have with all schools not just Jewish.

Jewish preschool is a wonderful experience and can solidify a child’s interest and engagement in Judaism. That, and overnight camp!

[Anonymous]

My kids went to Adas and are now at Milton JPDS. I'm from a European country where my kids went to Jewish schools with police protection so the Jewish schools here seemed better to me. I'm also more scared of random shooters in schools in the US and less concerned about anti-semitic incidents, which are thankfully very low here.

The Gan was absolutely wonderful and I highly, highly recommend it.

[Anonymous]

My non-Jewish kid went to Adas for a year (convenient location, lovely school). The security is very tight, more so now, because certain VIPs send their kids there. I wouldn't let the fear of violence dissuade me from Adas.

[Anonymous]

Temple Emanuel also has a Jewish preschool (on Connecticut Ave, north of the beltway). If you are Jewish, this is part of life (hopefully not a big part, if so, start therapy - you can't live your life in fear, you need to live!). Is your husband going to say the same when you start religious school? This is something the two of you may need to go to counseling about.

[Anonymous]

I guess I’m no more worried about violence occurring at a Jewish preschool than I am about it occurring anywhere else.

My daughter learns so much at Jewish holidays, prayers etc. I had an older son go to a secular preschool and i definitely appreciate the Jewish education she’s getting.

[Anonymous]

We initially planned on sending our daughter to the Rockville JCC for preschool. We chose a different place for logistical reasons (it's closer to our house, it doesn't close as often--we both work full-time--and it has a junior K program, which is helpful for our fall birthday kid). We plan to teach her about Jewish traditions at home until she's old enough for shul.

If those things weren't an issue, I wouldn't have let the threat of violence dissuade us from sending her there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Temple Emanuel also has a Jewish preschool (on Connecticut Ave, north of the beltway). If you are Jewish, this is part of life (hopefully not a big part, if so, start therapy - you can't live your life in fear, you need to live!). Is your husband going to say the same when you start religious school? This is something the two of you may need to go to counseling about.

We are a non-jewish family who send our children to Temple Emanuel. The school is very proactive about security and we get frequent updates on procedures, new training they have received, etc. We would not abandon this lovely community over the security fear. For what it is worth, our previous pre-school downtown had several lockdowns for shooters in the area so the risk is possible everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Security at Adas is amazing. They have a grant from Homeland Security. I honestly think your kids will be safer there than anywhere else where there is the risk of a random shooting since those are sadly so prevalent now.

I would reach out to Adas to discuss your concerns. There is more I could say but don’t want to put it on a public website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Security at Adas is amazing. They have a grant from Homeland Security. I honestly think your kids will be safer there than anywhere else where there is the risk of a random shooting since those are sadly so prevalent now.

I would reach out to Adas to discuss your concerns. There is more I could say but don’t want to put it on a public website.

Actually, the safest preschool in the world is probably Langley Children's Center at CIA HQ. Nothing like your kids being protected by a paramilitary force.

But I do get your point -- Adas seems to have pretty good security.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you for your responses. For the record, I don't have an issue with sending my kid to Adas. I did talk to Adas this morning about all their security measures and relayed that information to my husband. I have no qualms about sending my son there. It is my husband that has the fears. We are going to another open house so he can ask all his questions. I'm looking at other preschools too, however, I get the feeling that they don't offer the same academics that the Gan does. I don't know that for certain but I was impressed by the whole tour. I also can't deny that I want to send him to a Jewish preschool.

The way I look at it, we Jews know we are targets and do everything we can to defend against it. I actually belong to a different synagogue where he will go for Sunday/Hebrew school and I'm not sure they've taken all the measures that Adas has.

[Anonymous]

One of our kids is at the Gan now (and was there last year), and our older one was there for a year, too, before switching to charter PK3 and still attends religious school at Adas. I don't think twice about their safety when they're there. The security guards are great, very friendly to the kids and to congregants -- but they're also armed. And the metal detectors that appear to be permanent at the doors are starting to feel more like a hassle than a comfort, now that it's been a few weeks since the Pittsburgh atrocity, but surely they must make your husband feel a little better about it? (Plus, there is often Secret Service there protecting the president's grandchildren, which is a whole other megillah, but it definitely adds a layer of security to the building.)