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Would you do it?
Topic Started: Jan 6 2008, 06:07 PM (230 Views)
marmyduke
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princess
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I'm wondering what you ladies think of this scenario, both secular and frum and everyone in between.
Sending your preschooler to an Orthodox school (it is attached to the primary school that is the only Ortho school in the city and area) that runs the gammut of students(Chabad, Litvish, MO and others). The preschool is wonderful and the teachers are supposed to be the greatest. The school is open to all Jews.
BUT...
1. The family is ultra, ultra non observant albeit jewish
2. The school is quite a drive away.

Thoughts? Issues? A good thing?
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zuncompany
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Administrator
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depends. Sometimes it can really mix up a kid if the parents aren't going to reenforce what the school is teaching and sometimes it can really help a family grow in their yiddishkeit.
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ICan
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Where am I?
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what does ultra ultra non-orthodox mean?
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Zeesachaya
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Rebbetzin
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marmyduke
Jan 6 2008, 06:07 PM
A good thing?

Yes, I think it's a good thing.

I am someone who knows what it is like to live in an area where there is really no option for a good Jewish school (except for one about an hour away). So here's the deal, if it's Orthodox AND it's a really good school than that should not be a deterrant for a more secular family. This school will help give their child a solid footing of understanding orthodoxy in its many forms since it is not strictly Chabad, Litvish, or MO but rather just plain frum. Since the parents do not have a home from which to give their child an understanding of this, the school is an excellent opportunity for him to gain a well rounded view (and therefore an open minded and perhaps tolerant view that the secular parents can appreciate) of orthodox Judaism as a whole.

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marmyduke
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princess
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Ican...I wrote ultra,ultra secular which is LOL the opposite of when my parents used to say ultra,ultra orthodox meaning anyone who has more than a mezzuza and acknowledges jewish holidays.

I don't think the school enforces any expectations because it is such a broad spectrum school. I was worried about my guy making friends, or more people wanting to have their kids play with mine..but was told the school has children from intermarried families, non-observant etc.
When you come from such a small community there seems to be more inclusivity...is that even a word?
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hallie_ari_mom
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I send my dd to a Chabad Hebrew school and I am "secular", but I think it's better to send her someplace more religious than we are at home.
1) we are all learning so much
2) living "secular" and going to public school, she needs to see a more religious side.

Her nursery school was in a Synagogue but open to everyone, nonJews included.. so she saw that too. I think it's good for everyone to learn from each other, personally.
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Zeesachaya
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hallie_ari_mom
Jan 6 2008, 08:36 PM

1) we are all learning so much

H.A.M. that is so great! I learn a ton when dd is in Hebrew school too! :nod
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marmyduke
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princess
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My ds 1 also goes to Chabad Hebrew school, it is a wonderful experience and everyone is super welcoming and inviting to us. The Rebbetzin is actually the one who first suggested the school for ds 2. I actually spent a year in a lubavitch sem/college (which is incredible if you knew me) and loved it! I just get neurotic about making decisions.
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rikal
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Zeesachaya
Jan 7 2008, 02:31 AM
marmyduke
Jan 6 2008, 06:07 PM
A good thing?

Yes, I think it's a good thing.

I am someone who knows what it is like to live in an area where there is really no option for a good Jewish school (except for one about an hour away). So here's the deal, if it's Orthodox AND it's a really good school than that should not be a deterrant for a more secular family. This school will help give their child a solid footing of understanding orthodoxy in its many forms since it is not strictly Chabad, Litvish, or MO but rather just plain frum. Since the parents do not have a home from which to give their child an understanding of this, the school is an excellent opportunity for him to gain a well rounded view (and therefore an open minded and perhaps tolerant view that the secular parents can appreciate) of orthodox Judaism as a whole.

This is pretty much what I would say. In Israel some of the Chabad preschool/kindergartens have 80% frei families. It never hurts to expose a child to yiddishkeit and its not a lifetime commitment.
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JRKmommy
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Bala Buste
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I've sent my 3 kids to preschools like that.

At the preschool level, kids really learn about Judaism from a more emotional level. They have fun singing prayers and Hebrew songs, the same way that they like English songs. They learn about the holidays. As an added bonus, Jewish preschool teachers will fret about making sure that your child isn't cold and isn't hungry more than regular teachers would. [We had a bit of culture shock with dd#1 - she had been attending daycare at the downtown Toronto YMCA, which is a great facility but very, very different from the Chabad preschool that she transferred to when we moved around her 3rd birthday. The YMCA obviously made sure that she was fed, but they didn't have the sort of Jewish mother coddling that Chabad did.]

For preschoolers, Judaism isn't about formal studying, and it's not about a list of dos and don'ts. The school complements what goes on at home if you are observant, but at this level you don't have conflict if you're not.

Since your area isn't very Jewish, it can be a really nice way to introduce your child to know something about Judaism.
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