Relations between the Jewish community and GLOs

[aephi alum]

Originally posted by AXORissa
woah... I dont think we ever had anything scheduled on a major holiday, we'd all freak.

We pretty much did. The only two Jewish chapter presidents at the time were ours and AEPi's... when they saw the meeting notification, they met with the Greek Life director and asked him to move it. He claimed that he'd had a sticky note on his calendar covering the words "Yom Kippur" so he hadn't realized it was Yom Kippur when he set the date but then he refused to reschedule the meeting. So the presidents of AEPi and AEPhi didn't go.

[AXORissa]

Originally posted by aephi alum
We pretty much did. The only two Jewish chapter presidents at the time were ours and AEPi's... when they saw the meeting notification, they met with the Greek Life director and asked him to move it. He claimed that he'd had a sticky note on his calendar covering the words "Yom Kippur" so he hadn't realized it was Yom Kippur when he set the date but then he refused to reschedule the meeting. So the presidents of AEPi and AEPhi didn't go.

that stinks....

I think my senior year, the chapter presidents who off the top of my head who were Jewish (I feel like Adam Sandler)... AXO, DG, SDT, AEPi, ZBT, I think Phi Delt, and not sure if ZTA's was... but when definitely 3 (4?) of the 7 sorority presidents are Jewish, we didn't have anything on a holiday.

[White_Chocolate]

at most schools, my sorority is comprised of mainly Jewish girls
i think delta phi epsilon is the same way
i think that it is because they are both non-secretarian sororities

[AXORissa]

Originally posted by White_Chocolate
at most schools, my sorority is comprised of mainly Jewish girls
i think delta phi epsilon is the same way
i think that it is because they are both non-secretarian sororities

actually, its my understanding that DPhiE was founded by Jewish women, and although it is not a Jewish sorority like AEPhi, the girls who chose to join there on many campuses are Jewish.

Phi Sig at my school was actually one of the least Jewish.

[aephi alum]

Originally posted by AXORissa
actually, its my understanding that DPhiE was founded by Jewish women, and although it is not a Jewish sorority like AEPhi, the girls who chose to join there on many campuses are Jewish.

Careful with the "Jewish sorority" label...

AEPhi was founded in 1909 by seven Jewish women. My understanding is that some or all of them rushed the existing sororities at Barnard and were turned away because they were Jewish. So they formed their own sorority based on Jewish ideals but open to women of all faiths.

I hate the label "Jewish sorority" because it makes it sound like we're only open to Jewish women, which is not the case. I prefer "historically Jewish" because it indicates that we were founded by Jewish women with Jewish ideals, but that doesn't mean we'll turn you away if there's a cross instead of a star around your neck.

That said - like begets like. A chapter that's predominantly Jewish is attractive to some Jewish women. They know they'll never have to attend a mandatory event on Shabbat, they'll have sisters to sit with at Hillel functions, etc. So most AEPhi chapters are, and remain, predominantly Jewish in their membership.

[White_Chocolate]

my sorority isn't Jewish
my sorority is non secretarian
i don't know why most of the boston/baltimore area chapters are comprised mainliy of Jewish girls

[AUDeltaGam]

Here's something I've wondered:

Do Jewish girls that are in so called "Christian" sororities (ADPi, Pi Phi, KD, etc...) feel out of place or uncomfortable in anyway? I'm Jewish and I have never felt "different" in Delta Gamma. But it's something I've wondered.

[shadokat]

What school are you at white?

For the record, D Phi E is non-sectarian, and was founded by 5 Jewish women who were turned away for their faith from other sororities. They decided to form a sorority that was not on the basis of religion, but on moral character, sisterhood, etc. The reason some chapters of D Phi E may have a large Jewish membership is because back in the day, it was one of the only sororities that would accept them, so they have a strong Jewish legacy.

Originally posted by White_Chocolate
at most schools, my sorority is comprised of mainly Jewish girls
i think delta phi epsilon is the same way
i think that it is because they are both non-secretarian sororities

[sugar and spice]

Originally posted by AUDeltaGam
Here's something I've wondered:

Do Jewish girls that are in so called "Christian" sororities (ADPi, Pi Phi, KD, etc...) feel out of place or uncomfortable in anyway? I'm Jewish and I have never felt "different" in Delta Gamma. But it's something I've wondered.

We have a handful of Jewish girls in our "Christian" sorority, and while I can't speak directly for them, I can say that, as an agnostic, I feel a little uncomfortable sometimes, so I bet that they do too. I think it all depends on whether or not your ritual contains references to the New Testament -- there are many NPC sororities that do and at least a few NPC groups that members have told me don't reference religion at all in their ritual.

Of course, it all depends on the flavor of your individual chapter. My chapter has a lot of girls who aren't very religious, so they are no Tri Delta Bible studies or groups that head to church together on Sunday mornings. I would feel more uncomfortable in a group like that than I feel in a group that references religion in ritual.

There were posts in the rush forum, I think, on how to deal with Christianity (or any religion) in ritual if you're not a religious person or a Christian. Most groups are pretty understanding about it.

[AXORissa]

Originally posted by sugar and spice


There were posts in the rush forum, I think, on how to deal with Christianity (or any religion) in ritual if you're not a religious person or a Christian. Most groups are pretty understanding about it.

hmm.. in our ritual there is a spot for prayer and brief mention of G-d, but our chapter just skipped over any religious content.

I do wonder, do NPC chapters HAVE to take girls regardless of their religion? I know for traditionally Christian chapters, it would be discriminatory to only take Christians, but is it allowed? 1) how does one prove the chapter is choosing people based on religion and 2) are sororities considered private organizations that can exclude members based on those factors, since they are allowed to exclude by using other criteria?

thats an interesting topic to write a paper on... (hehe, the law school mind constantly thinks what the next paper topic should be)

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by sugar and spice
There were posts in the rush forum, I think, on how to deal with Christianity (or any religion) in ritual if you're not a religious person or a Christian.

Yeppers.....
Christianity in ritual?
Christian vs. Jewish vs. Other?

[Munchkin03]

Originally posted by aephi alum
Careful with the "Jewish sorority" label...

AEPhi was founded in 1909 by seven Jewish women. My understanding is that some or all of them rushed the existing sororities at Barnard and were turned away because they were Jewish. So they formed their own sorority based on Jewish ideals but open to women of all faiths.

Doesn't AOPi have a similar founding story? That of the group of friends at Barnard, one didn't get into the sorority they all wanted for religious reasons?

[Buttonz]

Originally posted by Munchkin03
Doesn't AOPi have a similar founding story? That of the group of friends at Barnard, one didn't get into the sorority they all wanted for religious reasons?

This is taking from the SDT site: "Most of the seven had experienced the subtle, but very real, discrimination practiced against religious minorities by many Greek organizations at the time. In response to the closed doors, and as a way to meet their own social and housing needs, these young women established a sorority which would respect the individuality of its members. The personal growth and social development of each individual was the basis upon which the new organization would be built." This of course is talking about the founding of SDT

[SDTSarah]

Snaps! As a kinda-Catholic SDT, I agree completely. Of course, at Emory, with a Jewish population somewhere between 30-40%, being Jewish isn't a big deal. But I'd hate for anyone reading this to think that we exclude girls because of their religious affiliation.

In terms of relations between the Jewish community and GLOs, ISC has several Jewish girls, and there's even a Jewish Greek Council. I would say relations are pretty good.

Originally posted by aephi alum
Careful with the "Jewish sorority" label...

AEPhi was founded in 1909 by seven Jewish women. My understanding is that some or all of them rushed the existing sororities at Barnard and were turned away because they were Jewish. So they formed their own sorority based on Jewish ideals but open to women of all faiths.

I hate the label "Jewish sorority" because it makes it sound like we're only open to Jewish women, which is not the case. I prefer "historically Jewish" because it indicates that we were founded by Jewish women with Jewish ideals, but that doesn't mean we'll turn you away if there's a cross instead of a star around your neck.

That said - like begets like. A chapter that's predominantly Jewish is attractive to some Jewish women. They know they'll never have to attend a mandatory event on Shabbat, they'll have sisters to sit with at Hillel functions, etc. So most AEPhi chapters are, and remain, predominantly Jewish in their membership.

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Originally posted by AXORissa
actually, its my understanding that DPhiE was founded by Jewish women, and although it is not a Jewish sorority like AEPhi, the girls who chose to join there on many campuses are Jewish.

Phi Sig at my school was actually one of the least Jewish.

As shadokat stated, DPhiE is non-denominational. My chapter had Jewish, catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Protestant members. My school was pretty diverse, and my DPhiE chapter reflected this diversity.