<p>I edited my post…sorry about that Sikorsky.</p>
<p>OK, momma-three, I did, too.</p>
<p>The common thread between all Christians is the basis of their religion. Even though the religions may be very different in their specific beliefs and practices they share a common belief.</p>
<p>But if there really IS a “common thread” that binds coreligionists together, why should it be provocative or controversial to ask whether one is likely to find enough people of one’s own religion at certain colleges? </p>
<p>I still find the OP’s question entirely appropriate.</p>
<p>I’m sure your daughter will be fine! I think college visits are the best to figure out how you feel about each school. You don’t want to be a misnomer- I would just avoid overly religious schools. I think a secular atmosphere is best. A lot of schools in the north east fit that criteria.</p>
<p>Sikorsky, The only way that I could explain it is to tell you to look at the other statements that were posted after the OP posted her original question. The poster that brought up the holocaust made an unnecessary remark that in my humble opinion, reeks of the reason why so many Jewish people feel they have a right to treat non Jewish people in the way that I have mentioned.</p>
<p>The post that mentioned birthright Israel trips was really saying something else and not simply the importance of people connecting with their religion. The post sounded like a plea to tell your kids that they must never fall in love with a non Jewish person. By the way I have three friends whose kids went on that amazing trip and two of those kids have married Christians. They did however enjoy the experience tremendously. </p>
<p>I grew up in a city, and I have never heard the remarks that another poster made regarding never meeting a Jewish person. There are parts of this country that are still a bit behind but if you are looking to those areas to attend college than that is what you may come across.</p>
<p>I do not see the need to post a question asking students if a particular group of people are present. If it is that important to you to be around your kind, than by all means there is a place for everyone in this country. We live in a world with technology, and just about any information one could want is available. The religious organizations are listed on every college website, and certainly the location of the school would give you a good idea if your desired group is represented on that campus (if that is what you want).</p>
<p>I was only pointing out, that the language that parents were using sends a message to their kids about hate. You do not know who your child is going to marry so it might be a good idea to really examine those feeling before their kids bring home a Christian (heaven forbid). The whole thing was obvious and I am sure you all know just what I am speaking about. </p>
<p>There are many people in my town that asume I am Jewish because of my name, and I hear the same ugly hateful words regarding Christians as I did from my inlaws. To say this is not so, is a lie. I am disgusted by this type of backward behavior.</p>
<p>wilner is right. go to hillel.org. I am Jewish, GWU has a large Jewish community, but the majority is reform. During the High Holidays, classes go on, so I have a hear time with the schedule, unlike Marland, or any Northeast public college.
However, Hillel is a good organization to get a head start, since being away from my shull and my Jewish community at home, it helped me as a Freshman. Now, I have some Jewish friends inside Hillel, outside and also many many friends who practice other religions whom I hang out with, and don’t feel alone. good luck to your daughter.</p>
<p>momma-three, just a question, you do know that Mensch is a compliment, not an insult, right? I really think you have a skewed view of what the jewish community goes around saying. There is certainly a lot of pressure to marry within the community (or at least raise your children Jewish), but when the entire population of your faith AND ethnic group was systematically murdered down to a few million, and now totals 12 million globally spread across the planet, with 4 in Israel, 2 in Europe, and 6 in the (300 million population) USA, it makes sense from a purely self preservation aspect. It has very little to do with hate. I was disgusted by my experience on Birthright, due exactly to the sense they gave that you’re basically a “bad jew” if you don’t breed jewish. But that’s a FRINGE of the group, not at all the mainstream.</p>
<p>To go back to one of the OP’s original questions, I think it would be better to go to a college with an organized Jewish group on campus than to depend on off-campus groups. This is just a practical matter–it’s pretty hard to get and stay connected with an off-campus group. I recall my own experience in college–I was active in an on-campus Christian group, but never really got involved in a local church, despite my previously expressed intention to do so.</p>
<p>“I do not see the need to post a question asking students if a particular group of people are present”…momma-three</p>
<p>“But if there really IS a “common thread” that binds coreligionists together, why should it be provocative or controversial to ask whether one is likely to find enough people of one’s own religion at certain colleges?”-sikorsky</p>
<p>This is the core of the issue; given the disagreement, I think we all need to agree to disagree…</p>
<p>Would it create offense if somebody asked if there were enough PC gamers at a college to allow for LAN parties?</p>
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<p>This more or less wins the debate.</p>
<p>I used to attend a Catholic college. I fail to see how asking about a college with a large Jewish community is any different.</p>
<p>Momma three: If you don’t like the question just stop posting on this thread. This debate is nonsensical and unnecessary.</p>
<p>Arbiter…Yes after close to thirty years of marraige to my Jewish husband, five years of working with an orthodox Jewish agency and living in NYC for most of my life I know that a mench is a compliment. I have used the word myself because there really is no other word that really describes that goodness. I however also knew that when the other not so nice words were used it deleted every other thing they ever could have said. I remember when they started to do that to my children…it was very easy to put an end to it then. I guess they knew if they continued, they would see less of our kids. </p>
<p>As I got older I accepted that they were just not capable of having a loving heart, and I also qustioned how much they loved their son. When you love your children you should never make their lives unhappy especially when they have married someone who has made them happy. I wish my in laws could see our children today. They would be mighty proud of the job we did. There have been some rocky times both personally, and financially but we made it inspite of the problems they tried to create.</p>
<p>So, what I’m getting then is that you’re generalizing the hate you harbor for your (dead) in-laws onto the entire Jewish population and hunting ghosts in the shadows where there are none.</p>
<p>Sounds like someone needs a therapist and a bottle of wine.</p>
<p>Not at all, I was just trying to point out that it is not too wise to plant that seed in your kids especially when they go off to college…you never know who they will return with. The mistakes of my husbands family could have destoyed a marraige, and probably would have, if they did not move away. I know it had a serious impact on my husbands relationship with them.</p>
<p>I am sure there are many others who know exactly what I am speaking of, but would not touch this thread. I could not help myself, it struck me the wrong way.</p>
<p>mamma-three, with all due respect, you’re taking your personal experiences, generalizing inappropriately, and laying into the OP, a person whom you’ve never met, and making unfounded accusations based on your own bad experience. The OP doesn’t deserve it and you are wrong to accuse her or anybody else of any malice just because it “sounds” like something your in-laws might have said. Your hatred of Judaism is no more appropriate than the way your in-laws treated you. </p>
<p>I brought home a non-Jewish girl who my parents adored and whose parents adored me and like you I had a strong attachment to my religion where she had none. We have since raised two fine Jewish kids. Our parents all loved us as parents should. Your story is YOUR story. It is not THE story. I’m sorry for your experience, but you are wrong to generalize. I actually find it pretty offensive.</p>
<p>Would jewish parents frown upon you if you bring home a muslim girl any more than if you brought a christian girl?</p>