Although Deerfield has a long history of teaching Muslim, Christian, and Jewish students, it used to have strong Christian influences in its traditions. Both Judaism and Islam are student alliances, while Christianity is a “fellowship.” Abdullah Ali ’25 explained the difference, stating that the Muslim Student Alliance “is more a place of awareness… Christian Fellowship is a place for Christian students to come together, but for Muslims, there are not many of us.” He added, “I can count on one hand how many there are of us. It’s more about communicating ourselves as Muslims rather than having a space to practice.”
Mr. Jan explained that if Deerfield wants a more religiously diverse student body, it should weigh religious affiliation in the admission process. He said, “If somebody could self-identify in an application that they are Jewish or that they are a Jehovah’s Witness, I actually think that would be a relevant consideration for students because we ask a lot of questions, we invite them to disclose a lot of information, and whatever diversity means, one of those things can be and should be their faith.”
Ali feels that DA is structured to be more accessible to Christians than to Muslims or Jews, saying, “For Christians, it is very accessible: there are groups, there is a church right beside [though not affiliated with] campus. It’s so accessible that it’s not an alliance, it’s a fellowship because it is expected that you have Christians, whereas there is a Jewish Student Alliance, which implies that [they] are in the minority.”
He added, “I think it’s more difficult for Muslim students around holidays. On Eid, for example, we used to have weeks off at King’s [Academy, the school Ali previously attended], but that’s not possible here.”
Jewish Student Alliance leader Josh Freedman ’26 noted the challenges of attending a school primarily centered around Christian students. He said, “While Deerfield is able to provide me with Kosher food options, and during Passover they can bring me to Greenfield for Passover-friendly food, they don’t have Passover-friendly food in the Dining Hall… For holidays, it’s also really hard to go back home to go to services or to find services.”
Freedman added, “Boarding schools weren’t made for Jew
ish people. You’re being dropped in a place that isn’t centered around your identity, and when you do that, it’s going to be hard. That is not what Deerfield is made for.”
While Deerfield primarily serves chicken and beef, Muslim students also face problems in the Dining Hall. For meat to be considered halal, the animal must be killed in a specific manner. Tene Ouedraogo ’25 acknowledged this challenge, saying, “Having halal food… is not just a Deerfield thing; it’s just a problem in a non-Muslim country.” She added, “Most places here don’t kill their meat in a halal way in terms of praying before they kill the animal.”
Ali also wishes that Deerfield students were more open to experiencing different religions. “In Jordan, there is this connection between religious communities that we don’t have here. Muslims go celebrate Christmas with their Christian friends.” Ali had hoped for that same connection when he came to Deerfield. “I said, as the head of this alliance, let me participate in different religious traditions; however,
people kind of got the wrong idea, and I had the experience of people trying to convert me because they thoughtI was going there because I was seeking out their religion. It’s strange to me that it is not as common in the U.S., which you would think is a lot more pluralistic and open than a place like Jordan.”
Although the Academy does not directly celebrate any religious holidays, Ouedraogo noted that the school is committed to helping students practice their religion. She said, “Freshman year, when it was time for me to fast during Ramadan, I didn’t know what to do or where to go, but Mr. Jan made it clear that there was a prayer room, as well as the fact that the Dining Hall staff left me to-go boxes during dinner so I could grab some food and take it with me.”
Mr. Jan encouraged all students to change their perspective on religion and expand their worldview. He said, “I really believe that the way you study language is the same way you study religion. If you are not Muslim and you learn about Islam, the Quran, and the Arabic language, you’re coming to know a person in the same way you would know a person through a language.”