Jewish area near Arlington, VA (Reston, McLean: neighborhoods, preschool, to live)

[rsmarino]

We are going to be moving to the DC area. My husband will be working in Arlington and I'd like to find a nice sized jewish community. I have elementary school age kids. We looked at Fairfax and didn't love it. Any other suggestions on areas where there is a jewish presence?

[irvine]

On Westmoreland St. outside of Arlington, in unincorporated Falls Church (near McLean), there is a popular synagogue, with members from all over Northern VA, but there is not much of a Jewish presence. For a "nice sized" Jewish community near Arlington, I would check out Bethesda, MD. A little further out is Rockville.

[live_strong28]

Originally Posted by rsmarino

We are going to be moving to the DC area. My husband will be working in Arlington and I'd like to find a nice sized jewish community. I have elementary school age kids. We looked at Fairfax and didn't love it. Any other suggestions on areas where there is a jewish presence?

Not really in NoVA. You'll have better luck in Montgomery Cty, MD (eg. Rockville, Potomac, Silver Spring, and Baltimore 'burbs).

[athousandlogins]

Agreed. Other than the not-large Orthodox community in Fairfax, there isn't much in NoVA. It's not that we don't have Jews here...we're just more spread out. If a solid Jewish community is very important to you, Montgomery County is the place to be. Or even DC proper.

The synagogue that irvine is referring to is Temple Rodef Shalom, and it's Reform. It's a decent synagogue, nice inside, fairly large, their preschool is well-regarded...but no real community has grown up around it.

Arlington also has a synagogue - Etz Hayim - which is Conservative. I haven't been, but friends speak well of it. They also have a preschool. But like Rodef Shalom, there's just not a big Jewish community built up around it.

[michgc]

I ditto what everyone else says. I'm Jewish and I lived in Montgomery County for 10 years before moving to Northern Virginia. The presence in Montgomery County is much, much greater than in Northern Virginia. Schools are closed for the Jewish holidays in Montgomery County but not in Fairfax County (nor Arlington, I'm pretty sure). In many Montgomery County schools - those in Bethesda, Potomac, many parts of Silver Spring, Rockville, and Gaithersburg, your children will be surrounded by Jewish classmates. In Northern Virginia, it's very likely your child will be the only one in his/her classroom. If I had to recommend a Jewish area, I would definitely say the Mantua neighborhood around the JCC in Fairfax, but since you weren't enamored with that area, I don't know what else I'd suggest. I think Reston has a decent Jewish population, and I think Arlington does, too but whether they are concentrated in certain schools or neighborhoods or not, I'm not sure. I live in Vienna, and there is definitely not much of a presence here. When I meet a fellow Jew in Vienna I am excited. In Bethesda where I used to live that notion is laughable. Everywhere I turned there were Jewish people. My daughter is one of only two or three Jewish children in her grade and to date (K, 1st, and 2nd grades) she has been the only one in her classroom). My friend's experience in another Vienna elementary school is similar. Good luck and feel free to ask any other questions or let us know what you decide.

ETA: Having said all that, I still like Vienna better than most of the places I lived in Maryland. Bethesda is very nice but very expensive. And there is more of a competitive factor (what brand are your jeans?) than here in Northern Virginia. At least that was my experience.

[live_strong28]

Originally Posted by michgc

I ditto what everyone else says. I'm Jewish and I lived in Montgomery County for 10 years before moving to Northern Virginia. The presence in Montgomery County is much, much greater than in Northern Virginia. Schools are closed for the Jewish holidays in Montgomery County but not in Fairfax County (nor Arlington, I'm pretty sure). In many Montgomery County schools - those in Bethesda, Potomac, many parts of Silver Spring, Rockville, and Gaithersburg, your children will be surrounded by Jewish classmates. In Northern Virginia, it's very likely your child will be the only one in his/her classroom. If I had to recommend a Jewish area, I would definitely say the Mantua neighborhood around the JCC in Fairfax, but since you weren't enamored with that area, I don't know what else I'd suggest. I think Reston has a decent Jewish population, and I think Arlington does, too but whether they are concentrated in certain schools or neighborhoods or not, I'm not sure. I live in Vienna, and there is definitely not much of a presence here. When I meet a fellow Jew in Vienna I am excited. In Bethesda where I used to live that notion is laughable. Everywhere I turned there were Jewish people. My daughter is one of only two or three Jewish children in her grade and to date (K, 1st, and 2nd grades) she has been the only one in her classroom). My friend's experience in another Vienna elementary school is similar. Good luck and feel free to ask any other questions or let us know what you decide.

ETA: Having said all that, I still like Vienna better than most of the places I lived in Maryland. Bethesda is very nice but very expensive. And there is more of a competitive factor (what brand are your jeans?) than here in Northern Virginia. At least that was my experience.

So Bethesda to you is more expensive than Vienna? How would you compare the schools?

I do know that overall, Bethesda is supposed to be more wealthy than Potomac.

Do you find that with the Jews in NoVA, most are reform?

Also, for what it's worth, I've never come across a Jewish deli or bagel joint in NoVa. I don't think anyone has even tried.

In the Silver Spring area, at least there's the Parkway Deli and a Krupin's in NWDC to get your fix.

Parkway Diner - Restaurant and Carry Out

::Morty's Delicatessen

[rsmarino]

Thanks for all the great info! How long would a commute be from Rockville to Arlington? My hubby will be working normal hours, Monday-Friday--8am-6pm

[JfromReston]

Originally Posted by rsmarino

How long would a commute be from Rockville to Arlington? My hubby will be working normal hours, Monday-Friday--8am-6pm

About one hour. Note that unless he has two occupants in his car he won't be able to travel I-66. If he is alone he will need to travel I-270 to the GW Parkway. The GW Parkway can get very slow inbound in the mornings.

[live_strong28]

Originally Posted by rsmarino

Thanks for all the great info! How long would a commute be from Rockville to Arlington? My hubby will be working normal hours, Monday-Friday--8am-6pm

That commute during rush hour may take about 1 hr. at least, one way.

[irvine]

Bethesda and Chevy Chase are much closer. Look into neighborhoods either in Maryland or DC near Westmoreland Circle, Massachusetts Ave, Western Ave, River Rd. Closer to the river is Glen Echo. The commute would most likely mean Delacarlia Pkwy to MacArthur to Chain Bridge... or MacArthur to Foxhall/Canal Rd to Key Bridge to the Rosslyn neighborhood of Arlington. From Glen Echo and areas of Bethesda close to the river you can take the Clara Barton Pkwy to Canal Rd to Key Bridge. There are many excellent public elementary schools in Bethesda and Chevy Chase and just across the line in the District. The commute should be fine, perhaps 20-40 minutes, depending on the neighborhood.

Rockville is further away, but housing is generally less expensive.