Anonymous
05/28/2025 11:49
Subject: Jewish Kid at Catholic School
Funny, we just discussed this last night. My kids attended a preschool at a local synagogue. We would estimate about 15 percent of the families were not Jewish, 10 percent of the families had 2 Jewish parents and the rest had 1 non-Jewish parent and 1 Jewish parent. Approximately 30 percent of the teachers weren’t Jewish.
The preschool was in a synagogue so it celebrated Jewish holidays with preschool level instruction, celebrated Shabbat with song (grape juice and challah) and did all preschool things. For us, the atmosphere was idyllic and I hope that all loved it as much as we did.
The preschool was in a synagogue so it celebrated Jewish holidays with preschool level instruction, celebrated Shabbat with song (grape juice and challah) and did all preschool things. For us, the atmosphere was idyllic and I hope that all loved it as much as we did.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 11:20
Subject: Re:Jewish Kid at Catholic School
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:A Jewish kid would be completely welcome at most Catholic schools. Now would a Catholic kid be welcome at a Jewish school?
The next Catholic kid that applies to a Jewish Day School will be the first Catholic kid to apply to a Jewish Day School.
Wheee always fun how y’all cannot resist the antisemitism.
Most non-Jews are not interested in the daily Hebrew and religious instruction/practice in a Jewish day school. Catholic schools are often different and have less daily religious instruction and practice.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 11:17
Subject: Re:Jewish Kid at Catholic School
Anonymous wrote:A Jewish kid would be completely welcome at most Catholic schools. Now would a Catholic kid be welcome at a Jewish school?
Do you think that is some kind of gotcha? Lol. My brother went to a Jewish preschool and I know plenty of non-Jewish kids that did. (Also JCC summer camps.) Jewish elementary and secondary schools tend to be much more explicit about religious instruction and study than Catholic schools, so it would not really be a good comparison. A better comparison is a more intense Catholic school like The Heights where religious instruction is much more central. Anyway all of this is to say that the areas where you see more Jewish “secular” offerings open to all are more for the younger kids and camps and the offerings for older kids are less secular.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 11:13
Subject: Re:Jewish Kid at Catholic School
I am Catholic and for my 4th, 5th and 6th grade we lived in a heavily Jewish neighborhood in a N.J. city. The kids in my school were at least 80% Jewish.
What I came away with is that it wasn't a lot of fun being a minority. Not that there were any real problems ever. People were friendly.
But when we moved and I went to a school in which Christians were the overwhelming majority it was much better for me. I had more in common with the other kids culturally.
What I came away with is that it wasn't a lot of fun being a minority. Not that there were any real problems ever. People were friendly.
But when we moved and I went to a school in which Christians were the overwhelming majority it was much better for me. I had more in common with the other kids culturally.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 10:14
Subject: Jewish Kid at Catholic School
Catholics schools genuinely welcome students of all faiths and no faith at all. However these schools are supported by the Catholic Church (or a religious order) and are not secular schools. No one will try to convert non Catholics, but Catholics do get upset if non Catholics attend Catholic school and then object to religious teachings, Mass attendance, etc. If you choose to send your non Catholic student to a Catholic school, they have to be respectful of the religion.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 22:43
Subject: Jewish Kid at Catholic School
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DD is finishing 7th grade in MCPS and we are looking to send her to private for high school. She's high achieving academically, but I think the "lost at sea" is catching up with her. We've been looking at other options, and she is definitely gravitating towards single-sex schools. I would love for her to have options beyond Holton/NCS. Do any of you have experience with being a Jewish student at the DMV Catholic schools? Does one feel like an oddball or is it not really a thing?
I would assume it varies based on the school. Right now we're open to them all (Stone Ridge, AHC, Holy Child, Visi) and would love to hear people's thoughts. My mother actually grew up Catholic and went to Holy Cross back in the day so I have a general sense of the cultural milieu. But how does a Jewish kid fit into that?
They don’t. Catholic schools are for Catholic kids. The end.
You haven’t been in a Catholic school lately. Most are 10-20% non-Catholic. Some even more. Students of other faiths are welcomed, but the curriculum and other religious aspects are not adjusted in any way, so families have to be ok with that and be respectful. If they can do that, they are welcome to be there.
I have 3 kids in Catholic school - I am assuming your statistic is for Catholic high schools and it’s all fine until Catholic kids don’t get in. Also non Catholics seeking to send their kids to Catholic school must not understand how much religious education is involved - and why would they - but it’s a lot. Every day. So why would they seek that out for their non Catholic kids? 9/10 times it’s because they don’t want to/can’t pay for a regular private so they want to get a private school community for less money. Gross.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 19:47
Subject: Re:Jewish Kid at Catholic School
Anonymous wrote:A Jewish kid would be completely welcome at most Catholic schools. Now would a Catholic kid be welcome at a Jewish school?
The next Catholic kid that applies to a Jewish Day School will be the first Catholic kid to apply to a Jewish Day School.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 18:55
Subject: Jewish Kid at Catholic School
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:When there are multiple synagogues in the area with "we stand with Israel" signs outside and similar slogans on their websites, it's hard not to conflate the religion with the atrocities. I realize the synagogues don't speak for all Jews, but you can't pretend that Jewish religious institutions aren't complicit in the genocide.
Your statement illuminates the ignorance of most non-Jews toward the complexity of being Jewish, loving Israel, enduring decades and centuries of atrocities, understanding the realities of Middle East politics and yet being horribly uncomfortable with the Netanyahu government and its objectives. The vast majority of American Jews would prefer that this would end now, with the return of the hostages and a two state solution. But Hamas and Iran are as complicit in this as is Israel. No, Jewish religious institutions are not complicit in a genocide. Labeling this genocide is still controversial. But standing with Israel and supporting its right to exist, and the return of the hostages is not going to cease. And for all of this, as long as people think there is something wrong with our whole religion, I don’t know that it’s easy to be a Jewish kid in a Catholic school.
I agree with everything you wrote except that I actually think a Jewish kid is less likely to encounter antisemitism at a Catholic school vs public or progressive privates. Lots of Catholics admire Judaism (albeit I’m sure in a way that is condescending) especially the academic types. My dad was super Catholic and preferred Jews over Protestants lol. The real issue is that there will obviously be overt religious practice at the school. But from what I understand, by high school, it is pretty cabined and nobody will bat an eye if you don’t go to mass.
No this is completely false. MAGA is Catholic, MAGA is antisemitic. Catholics do not like Jews moving into their neighborhoods. I should know my family has always lived in a predominantly Catholic area those families were verbally abusive to myself as a kid and the other 4 jews in my school. We were called lovely names over and over again.
Catholics in Potomac are not fans of Jewish neighbors.
Jews do not belong in Catholic schools. Judaism and Catholicism have nothing in common.
There are three branches of Judaism, Orthodox, Conservative & Reform. Jewish cults like Chabad or Hassids belong with Opus Dei crowd of cults, not mainstream.
There is no reality a Catholic school is welcoming to a Jew, particularly now with MAGA wanting publics to be Christian. Who is pushing that 100% Catholics. Why do you think JD Vance changed his religion?
Catholic schools teach the Catholic religion, which is indoctrination similar to a Jewish Day School. However, no Jew should go to a Catholic school science alone is a reason not to do this. Not to mention the antisemitism.
It seems you are very anti-Catholic without really understanding American Catholics right now. There is definitely a large group of MAGA Catholics, many of whom support Israel flattening Gaza and the same people would not be willing to have their kids date a Jewish neighbor. There are also lots of liberal Catholics out there who are more pro-social justice and more likely to have their kids in relationships outside their religion.
Very few Catholics in our area in this day and age would be openly hostile to Jewish kids at their school, whether the Jewish kids would be ok with regular mass and religion classes is another story.
+1
Anonymous
05/27/2025 18:44
Subject: Jewish Kid at Catholic School
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DD is finishing 7th grade in MCPS and we are looking to send her to private for high school. She's high achieving academically, but I think the "lost at sea" is catching up with her. We've been looking at other options, and she is definitely gravitating towards single-sex schools. I would love for her to have options beyond Holton/NCS. Do any of you have experience with being a Jewish student at the DMV Catholic schools? Does one feel like an oddball or is it not really a thing?
I would assume it varies based on the school. Right now we're open to them all (Stone Ridge, AHC, Holy Child, Visi) and would love to hear people's thoughts. My mother actually grew up Catholic and went to Holy Cross back in the day so I have a general sense of the cultural milieu. But how does a Jewish kid fit into that?
They don’t. Catholic schools are for Catholic kids. The end.
You haven’t been in a Catholic school lately. Most are 10-20% non-Catholic. Some even more. Students of other faiths are welcomed, but the curriculum and other religious aspects are not adjusted in any way, so families have to be ok with that and be respectful. If they can do that, they are welcome to be there.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 18:29
Subject: Jewish Kid at Catholic School
Anonymous wrote:DD is finishing 7th grade in MCPS and we are looking to send her to private for high school. She's high achieving academically, but I think the "lost at sea" is catching up with her. We've been looking at other options, and she is definitely gravitating towards single-sex schools. I would love for her to have options beyond Holton/NCS. Do any of you have experience with being a Jewish student at the DMV Catholic schools? Does one feel like an oddball or is it not really a thing?
I would assume it varies based on the school. Right now we're open to them all (Stone Ridge, AHC, Holy Child, Visi) and would love to hear people's thoughts. My mother actually grew up Catholic and went to Holy Cross back in the day so I have a general sense of the cultural milieu. But how does a Jewish kid fit into that?
They don’t. Catholic schools are for Catholic kids. The end.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 16:39
Subject: Jewish Kid at Catholic School
Anonymous wrote:My Jewish daughter is wrapping up her freshman year at Stone Ridge and my older daughter went there for a few years as well (transferred out for chronic health issues). It's been a wonderful experience! We find it very welcoming and, while it is definitely a Catholic school, we don't find that it's over the top religious, nor does it feel like there's an agenda they are trying to push. I definitely recommend taking a look and seeing what you think. Also, the head of upper school (Mr. McCluskey) is awesome, does a lot of work with the Anti Defamation League, and is worth talking to about your interest and concerns. https://www.instagram.com/p/DHYjCPDsLn4/
What percentage of the students are Jewish? Do they tend to find one another? Are there Catholic religion classes or worship services? Christian references to Jesus throughout day or at events? How does the school handle Jewish kids being absent for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur?
And if other readers here want to respond to those questions regarding other Catholic schools, I think that would be interesting information for this conversation.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 15:36
Subject: Jewish Kid at Catholic School
Definitely not to Visi.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 15:33
Subject: Re:Jewish Kid at Catholic School
A Jewish kid would be completely welcome at most Catholic schools. Now would a Catholic kid be welcome at a Jewish school?
Anonymous
05/27/2025 15:14
Subject: Jewish Kid at Catholic School
My Jewish daughter is wrapping up her freshman year at Stone Ridge and my older daughter went there for a few years as well (transferred out for chronic health issues). It's been a wonderful experience! We find it very welcoming and, while it is definitely a Catholic school, we don't find that it's over the top religious, nor does it feel like there's an agenda they are trying to push. I definitely recommend taking a look and seeing what you think. Also, the head of upper school (Mr. McCluskey) is awesome, does a lot of work with the Anti Defamation League, and is worth talking to about your interest and concerns. https://www.instagram.com/p/DHYjCPDsLn4/
Anonymous
05/27/2025 14:59
Subject: Jewish Kid at Catholic School
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:When there are multiple synagogues in the area with "we stand with Israel" signs outside and similar slogans on their websites, it's hard not to conflate the religion with the atrocities. I realize the synagogues don't speak for all Jews, but you can't pretend that Jewish religious institutions aren't complicit in the genocide.
Your statement illuminates the ignorance of most non-Jews toward the complexity of being Jewish, loving Israel, enduring decades and centuries of atrocities, understanding the realities of Middle East politics and yet being horribly uncomfortable with the Netanyahu government and its objectives. The vast majority of American Jews would prefer that this would end now, with the return of the hostages and a two state solution. But Hamas and Iran are as complicit in this as is Israel. No, Jewish religious institutions are not complicit in a genocide. Labeling this genocide is still controversial. But standing with Israel and supporting its right to exist, and the return of the hostages is not going to cease. And for all of this, as long as people think there is something wrong with our whole religion, I don’t know that it’s easy to be a Jewish kid in a Catholic school.
I agree with everything you wrote except that I actually think a Jewish kid is less likely to encounter antisemitism at a Catholic school vs public or progressive privates. Lots of Catholics admire Judaism (albeit I’m sure in a way that is condescending) especially the academic types. My dad was super Catholic and preferred Jews over Protestants lol. The real issue is that there will obviously be overt religious practice at the school. But from what I understand, by high school, it is pretty cabined and nobody will bat an eye if you don’t go to mass.
No this is completely false. MAGA is Catholic, MAGA is antisemitic. Catholics do not like Jews moving into their neighborhoods. I should know my family has always lived in a predominantly Catholic area those families were verbally abusive to myself as a kid and the other 4 jews in my school. We were called lovely names over and over again.
Catholics in Potomac are not fans of Jewish neighbors.
Jews do not belong in Catholic schools. Judaism and Catholicism have nothing in common.
There are three branches of Judaism, Orthodox, Conservative & Reform. Jewish cults like Chabad or Hassids belong with Opus Dei crowd of cults, not mainstream.
There is no reality a Catholic school is welcoming to a Jew, particularly now with MAGA wanting publics to be Christian. Who is pushing that 100% Catholics. Why do you think JD Vance changed his religion?
Catholic schools teach the Catholic religion, which is indoctrination similar to a Jewish Day School. However, no Jew should go to a Catholic school science alone is a reason not to do this. Not to mention the antisemitism.
I think you’re living in the past if you believe Catholics and Jews are against each other. In the modern world, Catholics and Jews are aligned with each other, while progressives are against Catholics, Jews, and of course MAGA.
My Catholic grandmother recently told me that if she wasn't Catholic, she would love to be Jewish.