<p>Gettysburg? I have no idea about its Jewish activity but it sounds like it's in your geographic range, Is it consistent academically with others on your list? I thought it might be.</p>
<p>My nephew had it on his list, along with some on your list..but I think he was impressed with some jazz band activity there. Plus he was had an early infatuation with the Civil War, go figure.</p>
<p>Doesnt Ghettosburg have a huge KKK population?</p>
<p>^ I didn't go to Gettysburg, but I have heard good things about it. I think it is important that when we participate in the discussion on CC, that we do so responsibly and respectfully.</p>
<p>The Ghettosburg part is a joke and I was serious about the KKK part. Lighten up...</p>
<p>I love a good joke, but disparaging a university isn't one.</p>
<p>Consider Trinity in Hartford which, contrary to its Christian-sounding name, is only named for the street it used to be on.</p>
<p>And Connecticut College in New London, CT.</p>
<p>I agree about Clark Univ in Worcester, MA. </p>
<p>And I especially agree with the fact that most LACs in the northeast will have, to one degree or another, a fair number of Jews.</p>
<p>According to the Hillel website, Gettysburg has 60 Jewish students out of a total student body of 2700. Absent hearing otherwise from a Jewish student currently at Gettysburg, I would avoid it if you are looking for a modicum of Jewish life/presence on campus.</p>
<p>I would venture to say there is virtually no Jewish life at Washington and Jefferson College. If there is, it is minimal.</p>
<p>Interesting article about Gettysburg College and respect for freedom of speech and artistic expression there:</p>
<p>WorldNetDaily:</a> College to 'lynch' Confederate flag</p>
<p>Markr, and especially Boston,</p>
<p>When you go to the Hillel website and notice that Gettysburg is a "Small and Mighty" Campus, didn't you get curious enough to click on the link, "Small and Mighty"? I sure did.</p>
<p>SOME Hillels for small populations join the national organization for a program especially adapted to the needs of small pop communities.</p>
<p>Here's an excerpt from that "Small and MIghty" descritiption. Apparently 60 Jewish kids at Gettysburg can do a lot. This means that a small group cared enough to research and apply for the national status that entitles them to some resources and opportunities to help them demonstrate strength not evident in their numbers (an old Jewish story if there ever was one).</p>
<p>I compare this to the 25 Jewish students at Rhodes, where I see little evidence of Jewish activity compared to Gettysburg. OTOH, I read that Rhodes is in Memphis!
That's quite a city. My next move would be to find the synagogues from that city and decide if I could make a life that way. If I want to meet other Jewish students my age, not so much, obviously. But if what I need is the chance to walk to daily or weekly services, I'd look up the synagogue address and google the path to see if it's doable. Then I'd picture myself with a bunch of oldsters who adore me. Then I'd write to the Hillel director (linked to the site) to ask for one of those 25 to reply back by email to get a first-hand description. Do they rely on care packages from home? How do they do it? Was Jewish activity an insignificant part of their college search, in which case they won't even mind? </p>
<p>Note also that Swarthmore (with very large percentage and numbers of Jewish students) is also a "small-and-mighty." I assume that's because they don't have the headquarters on their own campus buit share with Haverford and UPenn...in other words, you have to look at much more than the number of students in Hillel, as this OP understood when she posted. </p>
<p>Has your S tried emailing each Hillel director separately? (see more below in my posting on that).</p>
<p>Anyway, here's what Gettysburg says about itself on the Small and Mighty link at Hillel.org:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Hillel sponsors cultural events and museum trips, as well as hosting Shabbat and High Holiday meals. Hillel has also developed relationships with other minority campus organizations, whether ethnic, racial or religious, and has worked with these groups to create joint projects and celebrations.</p>
<p>Hillel is essentially intended to be a home-away-from-home for Jewish students at Gettysburg College. Hillel serves spiritual, cultural, and social needs for Jewish students and also introduces the campus to Jewish life. We encourage non-Jewish students to participate in Hillel sponsored events.</p>
<p>On the "religious" side Hillel offers frequent opportunities for text study, monthly Shabbat dinners, transportation to services, and celebrations for major Jewish Holidays. Religiously, Hillel strives to embrace the pluralistic community it has been blessed with by inviting students from all denominations and backgrounds to not only participate in but, furthermore, lead religious events. Hillel also attempts to make Jews from all educational backgrounds comfortable with creating a community together. Our diversity is our biggest blessing.</p>
<p>Rosh Hashannah Dinner, building of the Sukka, Channukah Party, Passover Seder and Purim Party, and some of our Shabbat dinners.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I read through the lines and I see that's not weekly activity, but it's not too shabby for a total population of 60 Jewish kids, either. I can also read through lines to see that they encourage participation by nonJews curious about the religion, offering them spots in worship leadership too. So there might be a service I could enjoy since for me, I don't have to be surrounded by Jews but feel as happy with those who are
curious and exploring that option. YMMV. </p>
<p>On top of that, I generally assume that every list of Jewish students has one third doing all the work, so that must be a core of 20 kids each year keeping those activities vibrant. Sometimes just 6 kids, active on the Board, can do all that. </p>
<p>These are the kinds of questions to ask, and I know OP understood that when she said she'd looked at the Hillel website already. Thinking logically, the people you want to hear from aren't reading Parents Forum on CC; they're in their dorms right now :)</p>
<p>I have a different question for the OP: you say he's kosher but not very observant. If he'll eat from your kitchen with dairy and vegetarian meals, I think he could survive well everywhere. Although I recognize how essential food is to everyone, especially the adolescent male, I hope he'll pick the best campus where he can find lively Jewish presence, as you call it so well. </p>
<p>Here are some interesting questions to ask him: If a dorm group ordered pizzas together, can he imagine himself aligning with vegetarians and ensuring that one come in without meat? Would he eat that pizza or feel if it came from any nonKosher restaurant, he can't join in? If there was only pepperoni pizzas, would he pick off the meat or forego the entire meal? </p>
<p>A lot of kids who keep kosher make these kinds of decisions all the time at college, and it enlarges where they can consider attending, depending on their answer. </p>
<p>Personally, I'd be much happier to attend a college with lots of rides to services, weekly Shabbat meals (I'm sad to see only monthly at the Gettysburg Hillel, but sometimes monthly with good attendance is more satisfying than weekly with thin attendance. So you have to ask the leaders how they came to that decision.</p>
<p>Understand that if your student were an organizer, he could liikely get onto the Hillel Board readily and it could become his centerpiece EC. A lot of these smaller Hillels ebb and flo depending on which students show up on campus for the same four years as yours. </p>
<p>He almost needs to search his heart and ask "how many do I need to feel I can not only observe but celebrate/enjoy being Jewish for four years?"
That's a very personal question. Of my 3 kids, I have one who might answer
"ten friends whom I know from an organization, and can email or meet readily for a chat is enough" while another might answer, "it only works for me if I can go Israeli folkdancing every month. It must be loud and there must be at least 30 people in the room, regardless of religion..."</p>
<p>Some of this is a matter of personal style, not just numbers.</p>
<p>I would strongly encourage your kid to write out emails to each Hillel director at the campus of interest. Ask the director to reply AND flip ther query over to the current Hillel student president on campus.</p>
<p>I think he'll get replies, and by reading those replies a lot will become evident.</p>
<p>I applaud you for taking his interest so seriously and assisting in his search
for a satisfying spiritual life in the next important 4 years. That was heavy-sounding but I meant it for the Mom's ears more than the kid's...since I'm a Mom. </p>
<p>New Hillel tone is very happy and upbeat, celebratory. They rock. It's not your old Sunday School....</p>
<p>I know someone who's a freshman at Gettysburg this year, from an observant (Reform) Jewish family. I bet it's a good campus, if that family was comfortable with it.</p>
<p>Yes Boston, we gave you two chances here. Nobody talks like this on Parent's forum. Maybe we've lived long enough to know how these socalled jokes misfire and hurt people, or give strength to those who aren't joking to really encourage racism. </p>
<p>You said earlier you were joking. I will stretch and believe that you think you were, but I'd encourage you to consider a different, more respectful approach<br>
in future postings. And don't tell me, as you did to an earlier poster, to "lighten up" because I won't. </p>
<p>If you're Jewish and it's banter, well, have you watched the discussions from Michael Richardson to DogMan or whatever his name is when they tossed around the N-word? If you're Jewish, please respect that nonJews and Jews alike read this forum, and this thread is for serious purpose as well as fun.</p>
<p>Think about it. I think if you knew enough to write "Yidville" you likely are Jewish and are seeking a comfort zone.</p>
<p>So end of lecture. If you were engaged enough to post, I think you are trying to find a comfort level, but so far your ethnic jokes are falling flat.</p>
<p>If you want to really HELP the OP (what we're all about here, really), alternative wording would be, "I live near Gettysburg and the surrounding community population has few Jews." Boring, I know, but parents are often boring. It's part of our job :)</p>
<p>paying3tuitions I just want to congratulate you on not one but several very thoughtful posts; thank you for maintaining a high level of discussion and giving good advice.</p>
<p>ummm I'm Jewish...</p>
<p>Not to mention Yid is common terminology. No one says it in a negative light. Also, nothing said was 'racist'. As before, you guys need to lighten up a bit...</p>
<p>No one? Then how come Merriam Webster says it's "usually offensive"?</p>
<p>Back to the basic issue here, the Jewish population at Gettysburg might be "mighty," but it sure is "small," even when compared with other LACs in Pa. such as Dickinson, F&M, Lafayette, Bucknell and especially Muhlenberg. If the number of Jewish students on campus is an important consideration for you, you might want to consider this. If it isn't a big issue for you, you might want to ignore it.</p>
<p>each prospective student has to decide for his/her self what type of Jewish community is important.</p>
<p>Do they want to be able to attend Shabbat services? If so does it matter how many other students are there with them? or whether they are on-campus or at a local synagogue?</p>
<p>Do they just want to be surrounded by a certain critical mass of other Jewish students so that there will be others with whom they can share cultural touchstones? Do they want to feel that when High Holidays come around they aren't the only ones thinking of traveling home, or missing classes? Do they just want to know there will be others to light a menorah with them in December? </p>
<p>Do they want to see the Hillel offer opportunities to socialize with other Jewish students? To celebrate the holidays? To learn about Judaism? To advocate for Israel?</p>
<p>Is the prospective student willing to be a ground breaker and organizer or do they want to see programs already in place?</p>
<p>The shear number of Jewish students can mean little other than the shear number of Jewish students at a campus. A student has to know what about the Jewish community is important in order to be able to ask the right questions when contacting the local Hillel. We visited some schools that seemed to have the "numbers," but in fact simply did not offer the type of community my kids sought. We visited other schools that had less in number, but had an active and exciting Hillel. My kids rejected some schools based on Jewish community that were fine with some of their friends and vice versa.</p>
<p>Anyone out there have a clue about Jewish life at Vanderbilt and at Wake Forest? We're Manhattanites and spoiled. I understand there are only 70 Jewish undergraduate students at Wake of whom 40 belong to the Hillel. Vanderbilt has built its Jewish population through offering incentives from 3% to 10% of the undergraduate student body. If he ends up at Wake, I don't want my S to forget his roots. I went to UPenn where it wasn't a problem. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Wake is one of the last schools I'd send a Jewish kid to. Vandy is getting better and better. They're taking a lot of Jews here to increase their #s.</p>
<p>Don't know anything about the other schools you listed, but my girlfriend graduated from Lafayette in '06 and had a fabulous experience with the Hillel there... from what she's said, it sounds like a really active group of interesting, committed students (though it sounded like the norm was non-observant, Kosher "style" rather than observant and fully committed to kashrut) who she really enjoyed being a part of in college (to the point where she literally lived in the Hillel house :)). She also had really positive experiences with the professors who are active in Hillel there--she's still close enough to one of them that when we were passing through town, we visited him and his family for Shabbos dinner! Really lovely man, really lovely family, and if they're at all representative of the Jewish community at Lafayette, it's a very welcoming place.</p>