Faith, integration and prejudice: understanding school choice among European Jews

The persistent popularity of faith schools has been understood primarily through the prism of race and class, with less attention paid to the importance of religion and religious prejudice. Data from the 2018 EU Fundamental Rights Agency survey of Jews in 12 European countries indicate that parents are split over their preference for faith schools that provide a sense of belonging and socialisation opportunities within the community while others prioritise integration into society. However, concerns over antisemitism lead some parents to prefer Jewish school environments in an attempt to shield their children from marginalisation. Such concerns are more prevalent among those who have experienced antisemitism. Although many Jewish parents are willing to sacrifice a feeling of religious inclusion in favour of more socially diverse educational environments, safety concerns are less easily allayed, ultimately serving to bolster the popularity of faith schools.