Diversity at a
Jewish Day School
V’ahavta le’reacha Kamocha”- love others as you love yourself, treat others as your treat yourself.
— Leviticus 19:18
Judaism spells out, in intricate detail, how we are meant to show that love within a diverse environment. Jewish law includes within it a blueprint for a just and ethical society, where no one takes from another or harms another or takes advantage of another, but everyone gives to one another and helps one another and protects one another. At Brandeis Hillel Day School we aim to live by this wisdom and instill in our students, faculty and parents the importance of respect and shared values regarding kindness and inclusion.
As a reflection of the diversity of the Bay Area Jewish population, the Brandeis Hillel student body represents a multiplicity of backgrounds. Every family, regardless of Jewish or non-Jewish background, structure, socio-economic circumstances or ethnicity is welcomed into the school community. We are very proud of the fact the our community is comprised of families from all kinds of Jewish backgrounds and affiliations, interfaith and multicultral families, single parents, parents and their adopted children, as well as a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds and family structures.
Our Radical Kindness program is a way to bridge Jewish values as it teaches our children to treat one another with respect and to seek a common ground to resolve our differences. The Radical Kindness team includes a component focused on diversity issues. While we seek to create an environment of true inclusivity, we are also working to ensure that each child’s diversity is mirrored in the school environment.
Throughout the curriculum, we seek opportunities to explore diversity and for students to see their family lifestyles reflected. Whether it is the creation of a family quilt, the celebration of Martin Luther King's birthday, or a discussion of a Jewish holiday, students share their experiences and broaden their perspective of the world around them.