<p>I just came across this while searching the UVA forums and want to weigh in because I’m another Jewish mother who took my child to UVA for the admissions session and was at first put off by the chapel. It was unclear to me whether there was an intended message about religion and who is welcome at the school. I know some people who aren’t Jewish may find this overly sensitive, but please understand that our forbears were brutalized for centuries in the name of Christianity so we may have a visceral reaction when meetings are held in churches. It can feel threatening, like a subtle message that your “kind” is not welcome here. That said, enter we did, with a bit of a nervous laugh and shrug (“okaaaay”). Immediately, the speaker explained why the meeting was being held in the chapel (space and timing), talked about the building’s role in school life, and made it clear that the school is secular. So I quickly exhaled. By the end of our day, UVA became–and remains–my daughter’s top choice. I just hope all of us can be tolerant and understanding of other people’s sensitivities. I also believe that when you are the minority of course you are going to be vigilant, but it is also in your best interest to temper your worries with an open-mindedness and tolerance that doesn’t assume the worst of others. Often, they don’t mean to offend. If we had walked away from the meeting because of its location, we would never has known what a great fit UVA would be for my daughter, who is applying next fall. We are OOS, so it’s going to be very difficult. But she found out today that she got a 35 on her ACT and her GPA is in the top 5th percentile. So there is hope. Let us pray. (!!!)</p>