Being Jewish at Notre Dame? Forum

[username99]

Would it be weird?

[dakatz]

I'd imagine it would be relatively weird. But if you aren't very religious, I don't think it would matter all that much. I'm sure they have some sort of Jewish law students association.

[username99]

Yeah...I didn't realize how significant a role religion played in the school until I visited its website. First thing I saw: “You will know the same law, are charged with maintaining the same ethical standards, and will be entering the same kinds of legal jobs as your peers across the country. But if you can keep in mind that your fundamental purpose in life is not to be a lawyer, but to know, love, and serve God, you truly will be a different kind of lawyer.”

I have nothing at all against this, but I only wonder if non-Christians would fit in and feel comfortable there. What do y'all think?

[CanadianWolf]

Most likely the answer is yes. It might be weird for non-practicing Catholics as well. But, it certainly offers you the opportunity to submit a diversity statement with your application, although I am not sure as to whether that would help or hurt your chances. (Remember, however, that the man on the cross is believed to be of your faith.)

[Veyron]

I think it depends on your personality. If you are the kind of person who can appreciate faiths other than your own and doesn't get offended by stupid stuff, I immagine that you would be find. I also think that the more religious the Jew, the easier time they would have fitting in. An athiest Jew would probably hate it.

[Lonagan]

There are several other threads on this topic, with opinions ranging from 'you won't even notice' to 'they'll probably set you on fire, for fun.' Personally, I am guessing the experience for religious minorities is not fundamentally different from any other school located in bumfuck nowhere in the midwest.

[username99]

I think it would be fine..I'm not terribly concerned. I'm pretty amused at the prospect of a Jewish person being a minority in the legal profession.

[Borhas]

Would it be weird?

is the pope a nazi?

[thebookcollector]

I'm a 1L at Notre Dame. I'm Roman Catholic, so I can't speak personally to what it'd be like to be Jewish, but there are a diversity of faiths here.

There are a couple of law professors that are also priests. There is also a crucifix in every classroom. Other than that, it really isn't that noticeable. There are hard-core Catholics here, but by and large, they keep to themselves. Nobody is going to try to convert you, and to be candid, most people don't talk about religion.

I honestly think it'd be the same thing at Boston College and maybe even Georgetown.

[Veyron]

I'm a 1L at Notre Dame. I'm Roman Catholic, so I can't speak personally to what it'd be like to be Jewish, but there are a diversity of faiths here.

There are a couple of law professors that are also priests. There is also a crucifix in every classroom. Other than that, it really isn't that noticeable. There are hard-core Catholics here, but by and large, they keep to themselves. Nobody is going to try to convert you, and to be candid, most people don't talk about religion.

I honestly think it'd be the same thing at Boston College and maybe even Georgetown.

Hint: Is not the same at Georgetown. Like 1/3 of the law students are Jewish. Pretty sure you would fit right in there. They had 2 sukkahs there when I visited because 1 was inadequate.

[thebookcollector]

I'm a 1L at Notre Dame. I'm Roman Catholic, so I can't speak personally to what it'd be like to be Jewish, but there are a diversity of faiths here.

There are a couple of law professors that are also priests. There is also a crucifix in every classroom. Other than that, it really isn't that noticeable. There are hard-core Catholics here, but by and large, they keep to themselves. Nobody is going to try to convert you, and to be candid, most people don't talk about religion.

I honestly think it'd be the same thing at Boston College and maybe even Georgetown.

Hint: Is not the same at Georgetown. Like 1/3 of the law students are Jewish. Pretty sure you would fit right in there. They had 2 sukkahs there when I visited because 1 was inadequate.

Jewish students would fit in very well at WUSTL. They have kosher meals and the campus is very friendly to Judaism. I will say, Notre Dame won't make it as easy for you as some other schools, particularly if you keep kosher.

[Veyron]

I'm a 1L at Notre Dame. I'm Roman Catholic, so I can't speak personally to what it'd be like to be Jewish, but there are a diversity of faiths here.

There are a couple of law professors that are also priests. There is also a crucifix in every classroom. Other than that, it really isn't that noticeable. There are hard-core Catholics here, but by and large, they keep to themselves. Nobody is going to try to convert you, and to be candid, most people don't talk about religion.

I honestly think it'd be the same thing at Boston College and maybe even Georgetown.

Hint: Is not the same at Georgetown. Like 1/3 of the law students are Jewish. Pretty sure you would fit right in there. They had 2 sukkahs there when I visited because 1 was inadequate.

Jewish students would fit in very well at WUSTL. They have kosher meals and the campus is very friendly to Judaism. I will say, Notre Dame won't make it as easy for you as some other schools, particularly if you keep kosher.

Ok, well if we are just talking about any old school, op might as well go to Penn, the king of the jewish schools.

[Drummingreg]

I'm a 1L at Notre Dame. I'm Roman Catholic, so I can't speak personally to what it'd be like to be Jewish, but there are a diversity of faiths here.

There are a couple of law professors that are also priests. There is also a crucifix in every classroom. Other than that, it really isn't that noticeable. There are hard-core Catholics here, but by and large, they keep to themselves. Nobody is going to try to convert you, and to be candid, most people don't talk about religion.

I honestly think it'd be the same thing at Boston College and maybe even Georgetown.

Hint: Is not the same at Georgetown. Like 1/3 of the law students are Jewish. Pretty sure you would fit right in there. They had 2 sukkahs there when I visited because 1 was inadequate.

Jewish students would fit in very well at WUSTL. They have kosher meals and the campus is very friendly to Judaism. I will say, Notre Dame won't make it as easy for you as some other schools, particularly if you keep kosher.

Bacon-wrapped final exams? mmmmmmm

[JusticeHarlan]

I'm a 1L at Notre Dame. I'm Roman Catholic, so I can't speak personally to what it'd be like to be Jewish, but there are a diversity of faiths here.

There are a couple of law professors that are also priests. There is also a crucifix in every classroom. Other than that, it really isn't that noticeable. There are hard-core Catholics here, but by and large, they keep to themselves. Nobody is going to try to convert you, and to be candid, most people don't talk about religion.

I honestly think it'd be the same thing at Boston College and maybe even Georgetown.

Hint: Is not the same at Georgetown. Like 1/3 of the law students are Jewish. Pretty sure you would fit right in there. They had 2 sukkahs there when I visited because 1 was inadequate.

BC only had one sukkah, but its about half the size of GULC, so there's that. I would guess that less than 1/3 of the students are Jewish, but its a solidly represented demographic.

Also, BC does not have crucifixes in classrooms, or anywhere in the law school building, for that matter. I think Notre Dame is a bit different from BC, Georgetown, or Fordham in terms of the presence of Catholicism.

[pohboydomer]

There used to be a Jewish Law Students Society--it might inactive now. And there are a couple of Jewish professors. It's not a big deal.

[jaudette]

ND 2L here. I also went to a Jesuit ugrad (not GT). By comparison, my ugrad was a lot more accessible for non-Catholics in terms of worship and community opportunities. Here, I have had two profs start every class with a short prayer. There is also a law school only mass. Some of the programming and speakers tend to be targeted towards issues that are relevant in the Catholic community, but I have never seen opinions suppressed and most often all sides of an issue are represented equally (although I have noticed the anti-death penalty position is pretty universal here).

I don't think you would have a problem fitting in at all, and I bet admissions would probably put you in touch with current Jewish students to get a deeper understanding.

[plenipotentiary]

Here, I have had two profs start every class with a short prayer.

That sounds kind of terrifying.

[jaudette]

Here, I have had two profs start every class with a short prayer.

That sounds kind of terrifying.

Its not as if he socratic calls on anyone to lead it.

[underachiever]

I was going to say its like being Catholic at Penn....
but seriously, (a Republican jumping on a diversity soapbox now) its a great experience to be surrounded by people who are different from you, whether it be background, race or religion, you really can learn a lot outside of the classroom. I have had plenty of non-catholic/non-religious friends go to ND and none have come back with serious issues. ND is a great school and just b/c it is run by a Catholic order does not mean it is not open to folks that practice different/no religions.
So no OP, not weird at all.

[plenipotentiary]

Here, I have had two profs start every class with a short prayer.

That sounds kind of terrifying.

Its not as if he uses socratic calls on anyone to lead it.

Thanks for putting that in perspective for me!