PJA Diversity Statement

"Every person is created from the stamp of the first person, yet no two people are exactly alike." 
- Mishna Sanhedrin 4:5 

Guided by our middot (values) and our mission, we share a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. With Jewish life at our center, we aspire to ensure a genuine sense of belonging in all members of our community. We honor and teach the importance of the vast expansiveness of human diversity.

As a school community, we are committed to creating and sustaining an accessible, supportive, welcoming, and compassionate environment for all. We recognize and respond to individual and institutional prejudices, both overt and subtle. We demonstrate our commitment to tikkun olam (repair the world) through anti-bias curriculum, admission and employment practices, and social action. We are committed to ongoing professional learning to align our practices with our values. We recognize that the advancement of these goals is a process, and we choose to bring courage, reflection and curiosity to this work.

Nondiscrimination Policy

Portland Jewish Academy admits students of any race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Portland Jewish Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletics or other school-administered programs.