Can you share with us how your PJA education shaped you into the person you are today?  Any fond memories you want to share?  Any teachers who impacted you greatly? 

When I reflect back on my time at PJA, I realize how lucky I was to attend such a special school. I can definitely say that my 8 years at PJA helped shape the person I am today. The small class sizes allowed me to form close relationships with my teachers who were supportive of my goals both inside and outside of the classroom. It was a privilege to attend a school where teachers genuinely cared about their students as a whole person. Specifically, my 8th grade teacher Mrs. Meuwissen always went above and beyond for her students, especially in regards to their aspirations. I hope to have the same encouraging impact in my career one day as a coach.

Tell us about your soccer career thus far and your goals for the future.

Soccer has always been a huge part of my life. While I was attending PJA I was playing on the Oregon Olympic Development team and a competitive club team. I went on to play for my high school team, then at Marquette University, and now I'm playing professionally in Israel. After I graduated Marquette, I signed my first professional contract to play in Champions League with BIIK Kazygurt, the Kazakhstan national champion. Besides playing in domestic league games, I also was able to travel (Lithuania, Latvia, Spain) and play against some of the top players in the world, which was an incredible experience. In the preliminary round, we won all three of our games against the champions of Greece, Latvia, and Austria assuring us of a spot in the next round. Then we played a home and away game against FC Barcelona. My team beat FC Barcelona in the first leg of the round of 32 which will forever be one of my favorite moments on the field.  After we were eliminated from Champions League, I signed with Maccabi Holon, a professional team in Israel where I'm currently playing. I made Aliyah and my goal is to make the Israeli National team. When I'm finished playing, I plan on moving back to the US and coaching college soccer. Soccer has taught me the value of hard work, a positive attitude, perseverance, gratitude and how to work with others. My soccer career has already taken me all over the world and I'm extremely grateful to have the support of my family, friends, and community while I chase my dreams. 

Join Us for PJA's 8th Grade Graduation on June 12
On Wednesday, June 12th, PJA will bid farewell to the Class of 2019. PJA's graduation is a special time as we watch our students embark on the next phase of their education. PJA graduates--like many of you--recognize that their time at PJA has been unique--unlike any other school they will experience. During graduation, students give presentations--in their own unique ways--reflecting on their time at PJA. Some students perform original songs, others create films, and others make speeches, all with the goal of summing up their time at PJA. It is a chance to reflect on what PJA has meant to them over the years, the education they've received, the values they've learned, the commitment to Tikkun Olam they've made, and the friendships they've formed. In summing up their time at PJA, it is evident that we have given them a strong foundation which will serve them well in high school and beyond.

If you would like to join us for this year's graduation ceremony on June 12th at 7:00 PM, please RSVP to Richard Boyd at rboyd@pjaproud.org.

Taglit Gives PJA Middle Schoolers Time for In-Depth Exploration

Ten years or so ago, with plans to offer new learning opportunities and beat the mid-winter blues, PJA's Middle School teachers created Taglit (Discovery in Hebrew), an intersession program designed to give students the opportunity for in-depth exploration and hands on learning in areas beyond the scope of the regular course of study.  Each Taglit class is open to students in grades 6-8, providing them an opportunity to learn with students from other Middle School grades who share their interests.  Designed and led by Middle School faculty, Taglit classes take students out of the classroom and into new places.

Each year, teachers design new Taglit experiences, while also keeping some perennial favorites like Outdoor Adventure in which, rain or shine, students hike and explore different wilderness areas each day, and This Mortal Coil, in which they explore life, death and the afterlife from the perspectives of different cultures and disciplines.  Among this year's new choices are Do Talk To Strangers: Healing The World One Podcast At A Time in which students will plan and produce a podcast based on visits to organizations that embody the values of tikkun olam; The Great Escape in which students will design, build, and run an escape room; Ride the Rails in which students will ride every MAX line with cameras and notepads in hand and then create virtual tours; and Work for the World  in which students will work alongside other volunteers and staff at organizations including Blanchet House, Children's Book Bank, Free Geek, and Children's Healing Art Project. 

While we have always held Taglit in February, this year, students and teachers have a little longer to wait.  With the reports of a major snowstorm in the forecast, we made the decision to move Taglit until early June. 

Portland Jewish Academy
6651 SW Capitol Hwy | Portland, OR 97219 | P 503.244.0126 | F 503.452.7001