Glencoe exclusionary for non-Jewish kids (Winnetka: elementary school, colleges, to live)

[Cookres]

We are considering moving to Glencoe. We understand there is a strong Jewish culture in Glencoe and are concerned that our non-Jewish children will be excluded in some way (directly or indirectly) at the school. We have friends that have described some uneasiness with the Jewish children bonding with one another over Jewish related activities and not, necessarily, inviting the non-Jewish kids into their circles. Any thoughts on Glencoe as this type of community? Thank you.

[chet everett]

My friends that live in Glencoe have kids that are out of college but even when they were in elementary school they said the "cultrural identity" was pretty well faded. Yes, there are some holidays that line up with traditional Jewish calendar and there are some families that do have large bar /bat mitzvah but lots of families go out of their way to invite everyone.

There are always going to be some concerns for this sort of thing in any area where some folks like to send their kids to a cultural / religous organization for language training, spiritual tradition, ethnic dance or similar things. Do some poorly behaved children use this as a seed for "in group" / cliques? Probably. That said it is not "a Jewish thing" because by and large these families are NOT Orthodox and you'll find only few families that even do so much as adhere to a Kosher diet / escrew crab or bacon cheeseburgers for gelfite fish or boiled tongue...

Jewish identity is still present, some folks do quite a few things at their synagogue. That said, the majority of families are much more concerned with raising kids that get along with anybody, do well in schools / extracurricuars, go to good colleges, have successful careers, not raising kids to live "apart" from anything /anyone....

[oak317]

I know some Jewish families in Glencoe, and they happen to be some of the most welcoming and loving people I know.

[ToriaT]

If you are concerned why not move into any number of other nice suburbs around there where this would not be an issue.

[JacksonPanther]

Instead of running to another suburb, go ahead and do Glencoe. Maybe your kids will learn what it's like to not always be the dominate culture, and will have some empathy for minorities.

Or you can just go on to Winnetka...