Great Neck for a non Jewish family (Garden City, Manhasset: apartment complex, co-op)
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My mother recently bought a co-op in Great Neck and I have since fell in love with the neighborhood. Anytime I mention wanting to move our family there I get told not to because the Jewish community isn’t at all welcoming and we would basically feel like outsiders within our own community. How true is this? We have been looking in Manhasset and Port previously but there is literally nothing on the market. Where as Great Neck specifically North has more to offer. Any insight into Great Neck North would be appreciated.
I'm in East Hills/Roslyn SD, and the Jews here are perfectly welcoming. Any snobbery is due to North Shore wealth/classism and nothing to do with being Jewish. That being said, PW is probably the least snobby and most communal of the 3 towns you mentioned. The rich asians in great neck (particularly the new money from china, not the Americanized asians) can be snobby too.
I'm in East Hills/Roslyn SD, and the Jews here are perfectly welcoming. Any snobbery is due to North Shore wealth/classism and nothing to do with being Jewish. That being said, PW is probably the least snobby and most communal of the 3 towns you mentioned. The rich asians in great neck (particularly the new money from china, not the Americanized asians) can be snobby too.
The snobbyness I’m expecting anywhere on the north shore. I’m more worried that my kids won’t be invited over for play dates or make any friends because they’re not Jewish. This is specifically what I’m hearing but I don’t want to believe because 1. The houses are so pretty and 2. Because I bring my kids to the playgrounds there all the time and have never not felt included. But again it might be different if I’m living next door. We are Greek Orthodox and know we’ll be the minority almost everywhere. I just don’t want to be shunned. Lol
I’m more worried that my kids won’t be invited over for play dates or make any friends because they’re not Jewish.
I would be more concerned about the fact that there's a big Iranian population on the northern part of Great Neck. Yes, they're jewish, but it wouldn't be that what would make you feel like an outsider. Culturally, they're still very middle eastern. The kids are not though. They are getting very Americanized I believe.
Ashkenazi jews in the area are pretty much like any other american and your kids, whether they're black, white, catholic...They would make friends just fine with them.
I didn't see snobbism like I see in Roslyn. There's a lot of "new rich" though, with cheese expensive cars and new mac mansions, which in my opinion is not good for the preservation of the cute old Great Neck.
If you go to the park and your kids are having fun with other kids, there's no reason to think they won't be invited.
However, I lived in Great Neck for 4 years (no kids), 2 blocks south of the train station.
What made me fill like an outsider was the stores very quickly turning into Chinese stores. The change happened very fast. Coming back from the city every day was bizarre. Like being in a different country at times. That's something to consider.
I have a cousin that moved to Great Neck in an apartment complex north of Northern Boulevard. He's catholic and he's been loving it so far so you should be fine.
The snobbyness I’m expecting anywhere on the north shore. I’m more worried that my kids won’t be invited over for play dates or make any friends because they’re not Jewish. This is specifically what I’m hearing but I don’t want to believe because 1. The houses are so pretty and 2. Because I bring my kids to the playgrounds there all the time and have never not felt included. But again it might be different if I’m living next door. We are Greek Orthodox and know we’ll be the minority almost everywhere. I just don’t want to be shunned. Lol
Try looking in Garden City. Good # of Greeks there.
The snobbyness I’m expecting anywhere on the north shore. I’m more worried that my kids won’t be invited over for play dates or make any friends because they’re not Jewish. This is specifically what I’m hearing but I don’t want to believe because 1. The houses are so pretty and 2. Because I bring my kids to the playgrounds there all the time and have never not felt included. But again it might be different if I’m living next door. We are Greek Orthodox and know we’ll be the minority almost everywhere. I just don’t want to be shunned. Lol
I'm asian and my parents moved us from Queens to GN when I was in the 5th grade. Invited to more Bar Mitzfahs than I care for. As adult now in the Roslyn SD, my kids went to pre school at the Jewish temples here, and all there friends are Jews (who tell them santa doesn't exist). Li Jews don't care if you are not a chosen one, even the persian Jews.
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