Diversity Statement
The modern Jewish world is often spoken of as a mosaic. Jews come from every country, speak a myriad of languages, represent many cultures, and are Sephardi, Ashkenazi and more. We represent all ethnic, racial and gender identities, as well as a wide range of socioeconomic strata. We are Jews by birth or adoption (sometimes called Jews by chance), and Jews by choice. We are Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist and unaffiliated Jews. We are non-Jews partnered with Jews and raising Jewish children. At The Rashi School, we celebrate that mosaic and actively work to cultivate a student population that reflects the richness and diversity of the Greater Boston Jewish community. We are a welcoming and inclusive community that truly sees the value in all people. We seek opportunities to engage with students from other schools—Jewish and non-Jewish—to help expand our worldview and deepen student learning. Rashi’s faculty and staff represent a range of religions and backgrounds and contribute to that learning as well.
As the only Reform Jewish Independent School for Grades K-8 in New England, The Rashi School follows the principles and practices of Reform Judaism, but never to the exclusion of students and families from other Jewish movements or backgrounds. At the core of Reform Judaism is “informed choice,” meaning that we honor the mitzvot, commandments of the Torah and other Jewish sources and we build our Jewish practice through experience and study. Reform Judaism recognizes that some rituals, actions or beliefs may not ultimately fit within a person’s zone of Jewish comfort and meaning. Rashi supports the right of all of the members of our mosaic to make informed choices about their Jewish practice, and we honor those choices.
Rashi’s Core Values
We see it in the classroom, as teachers value and encourage students to bring their whole selves. We experience it outside the school walls, when Rashi families and students march in the Pride Parade or volunteer as a community on MLK Day. We see it in our alumni, who flourish at the top high schools and colleges. We hear it in Kabbalat Shabbat, when Middle Schoolers share a portion from the Torah.