Education, not theology,
leads Jewish students to
Catholic schools.
than a catechism class, said Matthew
Herskoviz, 15, a sophomore at U of D.
"It's more like a study of religion than
of God," Matthew said. "It has nothing to
do with personal beliefs in God. It's a so-
cial studies thing. I don't think religion
classes are a big deal.
"I know who I am. I have a lot of friends
here. I'm very happy with my life," said
Matthew, who attends U of D with his
brothers, Josh, 17, and Michael, 13. "I
don't think about it when they talk about
Jesus."
"A lot of people say prayers before
classes," said Gabe Bodzin. "It's some-
thing I had to expect. I never feel uncom-
fortable.
"There's nothing wrong learning about
Catholicism," Gabe said. "It's something
you have to deal with all your life. I think
they do a pretty good job with religion."
Natasha, a senior at Marian, said even
going to mass isn't bad.
"I know all the prayers by heart, but I
"Theology teachers treat
don't have to say them," said Natasha,
who has been at Marian for three years.
religion as they do any
As a young girl, Natasha, who came to
academic discipline, not as a
the
United States from the Soviet Union
course to change someone's
in the late 1970s, was enrolled at the Sal-
religious beliefs."
ly Allen Alexander Beth Jacob School for
— Father Richard Twohig Girls. But she dropped out after three
said. While he rejected Orthodoxy, he re- years when the administration changed
tained his pro-Israel stance and his com- and decided the program was too tradi-
mitment to marry a Jewish girl, prefer- tional for her. She then tried Akiva, but
ably one who wants to speak Hebrew in did not like her classmates. Later, she
tried secular institutions, but was either
the home.
"If I wanted, I could be Catholic in a bored or unhappy. So after exhausting
minute," Jeff said. "I know all the her other options, she decided to try
Marian.
prayers, all the rules."
"I like everyone here," Natasha said.
Most parents agree they would not feel
comfortable enrolling their children in a "When I came here, everyone was nice to
Catholic school if there wasn't a strong me."
Although most of her classmates take
Jewish identity in the home. There are no
Christmas trees in these homes and the communion during the school's monthly.
families celebrate all major Jewish holi- masses, Natasha has never felt pressured
or uncomfortable because she doesn't
days.
"We're very proud we're Jewish," said take the sacrament.
"I even wear a Jewish star a lot and I
Irina Rivin, who has no regrets about
sending her daughter, Natasha, 17, to don't get any questions," Natasha said.
While parochial schools have welcomed
Marian High School, an all-girls institu-
tion in Birmingham. "I don't think it those with different beliefs, Detroit's Jew-
made a difference where she went to ish day schools strongly discourage Chris-
school. She would still be Jewish. We're tians from enrolling and, in fact, have
not a religious family, but she knows rarely had any inquiries from non-Jews.
Instead, administrators at Hebrew
she's Jewish."
While theology classes and occasional schools prefer to have committed Jewish
masses are required for everyone enrolled students.
"We'll accept those of all races whether
in Christian schools, learning about
Christianity is more like a history lesson they are black, yellow or purple, but they
Emanu-El, is an ardent supporter of
Israel. With numerous relatives living in
Israel, Jeff, who speaks fluent Hebrew,
hopes to eventually make aliyah.
Yet, Jeff can recite Catholic prayers as
easily as he worships in Hebrew. A nine-
year veteran of parochial schools, Jeff
graduated in mid-May from Shrine High
School, a coed Catholic institution in
Royal Oak.
"I don't regret it," he said. "It has had
no effect on me as far as my Jewishness is
concerned. I've always had a strong Jew-
ish identity."
Nine years ago, about the same time his
parents enrolled him in Gesu Elementary
School, Jeff became involved with the Or-
thodox community in Oak Park. His new
friends continually asked him to go to a
yeshiva, but his parents vetoed the idea
because they felt it was too traditional.
As he got older, he realized being an Or-
thodox Jew wasn't practical for him, Jeff
have to be Jewish by halachic stan-
dards," said Rabbi E.B. Freedman, ad-
ministrative director at Yeshiva Beth
Yehudah.
"We strongly discourage non-Jews,"
said Ofra Fisher, Agency for Jewish Edu-
cation executive director. Because the ed-
ucational program is geared toward br-
inging concepts learned at school into the
home, "we don't know how comfortable
the (non-Jewish) children will be if they
make an effort to bring what they learned
home and realize they can't integrate
Shabbat."
Father Richard Twohig, U of D prin-
cipal, said non-Catholics, attracted by the
school's reputation for providing a good
education, have always been welcomed as
long as they understand that Catholicism
is a major aspect of the school and that
every student must attend the school's
opening mass.
"Parents sign a form when they register
Natalie Burge, left, is a
junior and Natasha Rivin
a senior at Marian High
School.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
25