Portland Jewish Academy is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland and is proud of our partnership with them in strengthening our local Jewish community as well as the global community.
Portland Jewish Academy and Schnitzer Family Campus partner Mittleman Jewish Community Center are proud partners with the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland to bring the Harold Grinspoon Foundation's PJ Library program to Jewish children in Portland.
PJA Proud: Our Students and Graduates
Accomplished.
Confident.
Committed.
These are just a few of the words that describe our students and graduates. PJA is proud to develop kids with character who become tomorrow's leaders. Here are a few of the reasons why we're "PJA Proud"!
Helping Victims of Superstorm Sandy
Josh Israel, PJA alum and a recent graduate from Riverdale High School, is getting a harsh taste of the real world. Josh has been working with FEMA Corps to help people in New York who were victimized by superstorm Sandy.
His mom told the Portland Tribune, "He's going door-to-door with FEMA fliers and checking on people. He told me it was very humbling."
Josh joined FEMA Corps after graduating from Riverdale this past June. He received intense training at FEMA centers in Mississippi, Alabama and Lousiana before being deployed to New York last Saturday.
Thank you, Josh! You make us PJA PROUD and we know many friends and relatives of several PJA families are grateful for the help of mensches like you.
Great Work
Class of 2002 PJA Alum Libby Weiss is currently in Israel serving in the IDF. Recently she told KATU News about that decision. Libby, are so proud of you. Stay safe.
A Warm Welcome
Beginning your college career can be tricky, full of adventure, and fun. Here's how one PJA Alum, Maya Volk, started her year at Whitman College with a little help from another PJA Alum, her brother Tal.
Mazel tov to Esther Horowitz (PJA Class of 2003) who received her Master’s of Science in Education (Applied Linguistics) from Oxford University on May 12, 2012. Her dissertation analyzed methods of teaching English to language-minority children in the classroom. She currently puts her Spanish language skills to use in a Montessori classroom. Esther graduated from St. Mary's High School in 2007 and went on to McGill University in Montreal, Canada where she completed her college education in three years, graduating in 2010.
Sarah received the Centurion Award - Given to undergraduate students for dedication and outstanding service as student leaders in the last year.
Hadas received the Theresa Kelly Janes Mothers' Club Scholarship - Awarded to a University of Oregon student on the basis of grades, and community and university service. Also the Dean's Award for Service - which goes primarily to seniors who have made exceptional contributions of service to the university community, fellow students, or the larger community.
We're moving on to the High Schools of our choice!
Kol HaKavod to Leanne Silberberg!
Leanne Silberberg graduated from McGill University in July 2011 with a BASc in psychology and linguistics. She then moved to Toronto where she taught high school math and Hebrew school to fourth graders while also working from afar for Portland NCSY. Currently Leanne is in Jerusalem, living with an Israeli family and furthering her Jewish education. She is loving every minute of it but also looking forward to the fall when she will return to Canada to start a Masters in Speech and Language Pathology at the University of Toronto!
Congratulations to our students from PJA's class of 2008 who have been accepted to the following colleges and universities (the list so far):
Boston University
Brown University
Dickinson College
Haverford
Whitman College
Yeshiva University
Gap Year at Bar Ilan in Israel
Back from Israel and having had a wonderful experience this past March 2012, the amazing trip is summed up beautifully by our very own 8th grade talent, Zoe D-D. We are indeed PJA PROUD.
Mazel tov to PJA Alum, Sam Glauber who this week was highlighted in his high school newsletter! Sam is a Senior at Pacific Torah Institute in Vancouver, BC, Canada and recently learned that he has earned a full four-year scholarship to Yeshiva university in New York. Congratulations Sam!
From the newsletter:
To review is to retain - By Sam Glauber
"This weeks parshah, Vayikra, opens with “And he proclaimed to Moshe, and Hashem spoke to Moshe from the Ohel Moed saying.” Many commentators are perplexed by the redundancy of the verse, and there are numerous explanations offered.
Rashi specifies that such proclamations occurred whenever Hashem began speaking to Moshe, but not in between the “paragraph divides” in the Torah. Asking what the purpose of these “paragraph divides” are, he answers, “The [breaks] gave Moshe an interval to review between paragraph to paragraph, and between one matter to another.” Rashi continues to state that if Moshe, who achieved the highest level of prophecy in human history, needed a break to review each topic as he learned it directly from Hashem, the most perfect of all teachers, all the more so a regular person learning from a regular teacher must review all that they learn before proceeding to new material.
While often pushed aside in the hungry quest for new knowledge, it is clear that continuous review is essential for retaining anything that we learn. We would do well to learn from the behaviour of Moshe, who despite his exalted level did not refrain from reviewing what he already knew, to ensure that he had learned it properly."
Mazel tov to PJA 5th grader Seth T. who tied for first place in the K-5 Individual group during the Chess for Success State tournament recently held at the Oregon Convention Center!
Returning to her Preschool classroom, first grader Ellie B. proudly reads Dr. Seuss' Hop on Pop to one of PJA's half-day Ganon classes. Ellie was a student in the same classroom two years before. We're not sure who enjoyed this experience more, Ellie, or her preschool teachers Adrianne and Kacie!
Thank you and Mazel Tov to PJA Alum Nathan Ariel('04) who is currently serving in Afghanistan as Military Police in the National Guard.
NEW AND NOTEWORTHY STUDENT ANd ALUMNI ACCOMPLISHMENTS in 2011
MAZEL TOV to 2011 7th grader Matan A. for his wonderful submission "The Silent Painter" into the Youth Silent Film Festival 2011 this past spring.
PJA alums honored at U of O! - Sarah Meyerowitz (daughter of Lynne, PJA’s learning specialist) and Hadas Horenstein, received Centurion Awards – given to undergraduate students from all classes for dedication and outstanding service as student leaders. Kol Ha Kavod!
CONGRATULATIONS to PJA 7th grader Joseph W.! He was awarded the Elena Carter Memorial Scholarship. This is the highest honor possible for a student of Oregon Ballet Theatre. Dancers selected for this award are recognized for their talent, a superior work ethic, an innate sense of artistry, and the passion to continually improve. Joseph, you make us all PJA PROUD!
Mazel tov to PJA 5th grader August L.H. who has received Honorable Mention for her poem, “Restless Waiting,” in her age division in the Oregon State Poetry Competition! She will travel to Salem, OR to accept her award and read with other poetry winners. Well done, August, and Morah Harriet, who teaches the ‘Living as a Writer’ workshop for PJA’s 5th – 8th graders.
CHECKMATE! Both Seth T. and Jordan G. , both PJA 5th Graders, participated in the Oregon State Individual Chess Championships, which is an honor. Seth T. won first place in his age division! Kol Ha Kavod, Seth and Jordan! Next stop for Seth – the National Championships in Dallas, Texas!
NEW AND NOTEWORTHY STUDENT AND ALUMNI ACCOMPLISHMENTS in 2010
PJA PROUD GRADUATES Congratulations to PJA's class of 2010who have moved on to an array of the area's best High Schools:
Congratulations to our students from PJA's class of 2006 who have been accepted to the following colleges and universities (the list so far):
Boston University
Colorado College
Haverford
New York University
University of Colorado
University of Denver
University of Southern California, Film School
University of Washington, with honors
We have also learned about our Alums moving on to Graduate school. Thus far, we have learned about acceptances to the following:
Oxford
University College, London
Bring your family to see PJA Alum Rachel Rosenbloom '10 in the Lake Oswego High School Drama production of SEUSSICAL the MUSICAL this month. Come enjoy Horton, the Cat in the Hat, Mayzie the Lazy Bird and all your Dr. Seuss friends from Whoville and the Jungle of Nool! For more information or tickets, visit www.lodrama.org. Break a leg, Rachel!
PJA Alum Rachel David ’10 will be performing in “A Nutcracker Tea” with the Northwest Dance Theatre (NWDT). This is an abridged, family friendly adaptation of “The Nutcracker Ballet” with complimentary dessert and tea. Rachel is in her second year as a NWDT company member, and will be dancing en pointe in the roles of Rats, Snowflakes, Flowers and Chinese Ribbon Candy. Mazel tov, Rachel!
Break A Leg, Avital! - PJA Alum Avital Rutenberg-Schoenberg is directing the Neil Simon play "I Ought to be in Pictures" at the Headwaters Theater here in Portland. Avital is a 2001 PJA graduate, a Yale graduate, and she has spent time studying in Israel. Some of her previous directorial work was in a recent Shakespeare festival in California.
Mazel Tov to PJA Alum, Laura Eckstein, who is on the Lincoln High School Constitution team that competed in Washington DC in the national competition "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" Simulated Congressional Hearings. She and her Lincoln HS teammates came in fourth in the nation! Congratulations Laura! We are PJA PROUD!
CONGRATULATIONS AMIEL - INTEL NW SCIENCE EXPO AWARD WINNER
"Optimizing Auto Energy Efficiency by Understanding What Drives the Resisting EMF” is the title of Amiel’s science project that won multiple awards at the Intel Northwest Science Expo held at Portland State University on Friday, April 2, 2010. Amiel worked for months on her project, primarily after her school day at PJA. Her hard work was rewarded with four citations at the fair: She won first in her category (Energy and Transportation) and special awards from the Association of Energy Engineers Award, the IEEE (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Award for best in electromagnetic compatibility engineering, and an award for Outstanding Use of the International System of Units sponsored by U.S. Metric Association.
Amiel’s project was an original concept of hers and has multiple detailed parts, but the main focus is to use a magnetic axle on an electric or hybrid motor vehicle to induce an electric current in coils surrounding the axle. This electricity would be used to charge the vehicle’s battery, thus improving energy efficiency and reducing pollution and greenhouse gases.
CONGRATULATIONS PJA CHESS PLAYERS!
Gabi C. took second place at the Girls Play Chess Tournament recently.Congratulations Gabi! In just two short years with a lot of practice and tournament play, Gabi has become one of the top rated players in the state!
Seth T. of the MJCC/PJA Chess Club took 5th place in the Oregon State Championship for Rated Players in Seaside! Gabi C. and Everett C. also represented the club in the competition and won awards for effort and sportsmanship. Congratulations!
On March 12, 2010, the PJA players that make up the MJCC Chess Team came in 3rd in the Oregon State Cup Chess Tournament at the Oregon Convention Center. The next day at the Oregon State individual Chess Championships, 3rd grader, Seth T. came in 2nd in the state, and 5th grader Gabi C. and 3rd grader Zevi A. came in 4th in the state. There were approximately 80 teams (500 kids) participating! Big thanks to Coach Henry Carstens, a former PJA parent. Congratulations! You make us PJA PROUD!
In 2009 we were named BEST PRESCHOOL IN PORTLAND by our parents, faculty, and community of PJA fans through theNickelodeon Parents Connect web site in their Parents' Picks 2009 poll of local preschools. Thanks to all of you who voted!
NEW AND NOTEWORTHY STUDENT AND ALUMNI ACCOMPLISHMENTS in 2009
Portland Jewish Academy is an excellent academic institution graduating talented 8th graders to the High Schools of their choice each year. These students move on into public and private institutions all over the area and are active in continued academic achievement, sports, community service, and the arts.
It is with great pride that Portland Jewish Academy announces that 1/4 of PJA's class of 2005 is graduating from their respective High Schools as Valedictorians this year, primarily from Lincoln and Wilson High Schools. Almost 8% of the total Portland Public School Valedictorian pool are PJA Graduates and former students.
Congratulations to our Alums!
Ian Alevy Dana Bacharach Katherine Dobscha H. Samuel Ewan Talia Goldberg Hadas Horenstein Morriah Kaplan Na'ama Schweitzer Benjamin Silberberg
You make us all PJA PROUD!
PJA Class of 2002 Alum, Jodi Meyerowitz, who is now a junior at the University of Oregon, was awarded the Jim Buch Award last week at the University in recognition of strong academic achievement, and service that has helped the University build relationships with prospective and/or newly admitted students. Go Jodi! Congratulations!
We heard that the PJA class of 2005 is having a little reunion get-together this weekend before they all graduate from High School. And there's much to talk about! At least four are high school valedictorians (Dana Bacharach, Katie Dobscha, Morriah Kaplan, and Naama Schweitzer). At least four are also planning on going to Israel for a year before college (Max Barenberg, Max Specter, Morriah Kaplan, and Benji Silberberg). Here's a sampling of the excellent colleges and universities the Class of '05 are attending - Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, Washington University in St. Louis, Scripps, and Bryn Mawr. Quite an accomplished representation of PJA. We have more than enough reason to be PJA Proudof all of you! Do you know other PJA Alums? Tell them to let us know how they're doing! Just email alumni@portlandjewishacademy.org or fill out our Alumni Update Form.
Did You Know? More than half of the students involved in the Oregon Jewish Community Youth Foundation are PJA grads? Not too shabby!
And check out PJA Alum Boaz Frankel on KGW News from May 25, 2009, updating us on his "un-road trip". Have you heard about this? He's traveling across the country in just about everything but a fuel powered car. You can learn more about this adventure from his web site. He's also on Twitter if you want to follow him there.
MJCC Gymnastics Team member and PJA Student Sophie R. won the Double Mini event for her level and age group at the Regional Tumble and Trampoline (TnT) gymnastics competition recently. She competed against 12 other gymnasts from the 7 states competing - Go Sophie! She has also qualified for three events at the TnT National competition level. WooHoo!
In addition, all of the Level 5 and above TnT gymnasts from the MJCC Team are qualified for Nationals - WOW! Congratulations are in order for Sophie R. and Caitlyn G. in Tumbling, PJA Alum Linoy G. and PJA Students Melissa D. and Sophie R. for Double Mini trampoline, and Sophie R. for Trampoline.
We are so PJA PROUD of all of you and wish you well on your jouney to TnT Nationals. GO TEAM!
Mazel Tov to PJA Graduates Max S. and Hadas H. who were honored by the Youth Recognition Program of the Rabbi Joshua Stampfer Community Enrichment Award which recognizes Jewish youth who have demonstrated exceptional devotion to the following causes: advancing Jewish learning, creating a stronger Jewish and overall community, and a more ethical and peaceful world. Hadas was selected by the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation and Max was selected by the Portland Jewish Student Union.
PJA Seventh Grader, Rachel R.'s bat mitzvah project was fundraising for DoveLewis (not a typo), the not-for-profit emergency animal and pet hospital here in Portland. Rachel's work so impressed DoveLewis that they have invited her to throw out the first pitch at the Beavers minor league baseball game Friday, May 8, in PGE Park! Congratulations Rachel!
Taliana G-K, Joshua N. and Karly W. won Earthshare Washington's Postcards for the Environment Contest. Their art and writing is now featured on Earthshare's website. Congratulations and Mazel Tov Second Graders!
Portland M.U.S.E. Band participants had a competition recently and our PJA students did very well. Congratulations to Leira F. who won second place in the Intermediate SOLO competition and to Dane S., Owen R, and DanielH. who won second place in the Intermediate ENSEMBLE competition!
PJA gymnasts qualified for Tumble and Trampoline Nationals in their competition recently! Congratulations to Melissa D. and Caitlyn G. and PJA Alum Linoy G. Winning State Championships were: Cassie G. - Level 2 Champion Double Mini, Trampoline and Tumbling; Melissa D. - Level 5 Trampoline and Double Mini Champion; Sophie R. - Level 6 Trampoline and Double Mini Champion; Caitlyn G. - Level 5 Tumbling Champion; Linoy G. - Level 6 Double Mini and Tumbling Champion
Zoe D-D and Rachel R. are winners in the Oregon State Poetry Association contest! In Division 2 out of 267 poems, Zoe won first place, and out of 303 poems submitted for Division 3, Rachel received Honorable Mention. They were honored at the Salem Public Library on May 9 and their poems will be included in the OSPA anthology. Congratulations Zoe and Rachel and kudos as well to their writing teacher, Harriet Wingard. Both Zoe and Rachel are in Harriet's ‘Living as a Writer' class, which meets once a week after school.
Congratulations to Alex R. for qualifying for the state level geography bee!
Four members of the MJCC/PJA Chess Club, Everett C., Seth T., Jackson B. and Alayna M., qualified for the Oregon Scholastic Chess Federation State Championship held in Seaside on April 19. In addition, MJCC/PJA Chess Club Kids played their 1000th game this semester - that brings their school year total to over 2000 games played!
Kudos to Ilana W., PJA seventh grader, for her accomplishments at the recent Valley Catholic Speech Tournament. Ilana competed against 150 other 7th graders from the Portland area. This is her 3rd year in a row to compete and she has won a trophy all 3 years including placing 1st as a 5th grader and again 1st place this year as a 7th grader.
Congratulations to Francie S-K. who was cast in the chorus of Lincoln High School's production of the musical Annie.
PJA Branding partner RAIN AGENCY welcomed our own Dragon logo creator Matan A. for a morning at the agency. Matan got to ask questions of the agency staff and learn about agency life and work. Kudos to Matan for drawing our logo inspiring Dragon on display now in the PJA lobby!
Sydney R. is headed off to the State Gymnastics championships - she placed 1st all-around in her Spring meets - we wish her luck!
Eliana B. made the Oregon Olympic Development Team in Soccer!
NOTEWORTHY STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2008
PJA student takes top honors at MathCounts competition!
Mazel tov (congratulations) to PJA 8th grader (now graduate) Devin E., who placed first individually in the Portland metro area MathCounts competition, and to MathCounts team coach and PJA Proud teacher Tracey Wygant.
PJA Students commended by science fair judges!
PJA Middle School scientists participated in the 2008 Northwest Science Expo. Gilad L., Rachel R. and Maya R. were commended for their work by the scientists who judged the event, and Maya received a special award from the national Office of Naval Research for Excellence in Science and Engineering! We know that they will enjoy our new Science Project Room!
PJA students rock at state and local chess tournaments!
As members of the MJCC chess team, six PJA students participated in the K-5 Chess for Success Regional Tournament. Special congratulations to Phillip W, who competed in the state tournament.
PJA PROUD GRADUATES
"Great preparation."
"Strong friendships, great teachers."
"At PJA, I learned that I could do anything and be anything."
Our graduates' words say it best. PJA prepares students to take control and craft their own futures. PJA graduates attend the high schools and colleges of their choice.
Congratulations to our students from PJA's class of 2005 who are learning about their acceptances to the following colleges and universities:
Barnard
Berkeley
Bryn Mawr
Columbia
Dickinson
Scripps
Skidmore
Tulane
University of Maryland
University of Oregon
University of Pennsylvania
Washington University in St. Louis
And as they graduate from High School this spring, 7 students of this class of 30 were valedictorians in their High Schools.
Congratulations to the 27 students in PJA's class of 2004, who graduated from 12 high schools throughout the Portland area, with honors that included:
National Merit Scholar
National Honor Society
Academic All-Star and finalists
Lincoln High Outstanding Math Student
Wilson High Golden W Award
MAC Scholar-Athlete Award
Valedictorians of three high schools
Wilson High Coach's Choice Award
And more than a dozen merit scholarships to colleges through the U.S.!
Several students from the Class of 2004 were accepted to prominent programs abroad, including MASA in Israel, Young Judaea Year Course, B'nai Akiva Tafnit program and a gap semester in Peru and Bolivia. Others started at the college of their choice. The range of college acceptances is impressive and includes everything from American University to Yale:
American University Arizona State University Boston University Brandeis University Brown University California State University, Chico California State University, Fresno Chapman University Colorado College Denver University - Honor's College Georgetown University Humboldt State University Ithaca College Lake Forest College Lawrence University Northwestern University Occidental College Oregon State Univ. Pomona College San Diego State University Santa Clara University Scripps College Stern College/Yeshiva University Syracuse University University of Arizona University of British Columbia University of Maryland at College Park University of Massachusetts University of Michigan University of Missouri University of North Dakota University of Northern Arizona University of Oregon/ Honor's College University of Pennsylvania/ Wharton School of Business University of Puget Sound University of San Diego University of Southern California University of Vermont University of Victoria University of Washington Vassar College Wellesley College Western Washington University Whitman College Willamette University Yale
PJA: An accredited independent school providing an extraordinary education for your child
Mazel tov to 
Leanne Silberberg graduated from McGill University in July 2011 with a BASc in psychology and linguistics. She then moved to Toronto where she taught high school math and Hebrew school to fourth graders while also working from afar for Portland NCSY. Currently Leanne is in Jerusalem, living with an Israeli family and furthering her Jewish education. She is loving every minute of it but also looking forward to the fall when she will return to Canada to start a Masters in Speech and Language Pathology at the University of Toronto!
To review is to retain
Mazel tov to
Congratulations Gabi! In just two short years with a lot of practice and tournament play, Gabi has become one of the top rated players in the state!
In 2009 we were named 
In addition, 
MJCC Gymnastics Team member and PJA Student Sophie R. won the Double Mini event for her level and age group at the Regional Tumble and Trampoline (TnT) gymnastics competition recently. She competed against 12 other gymnasts from the 7 states competing - Go Sophie! She has also qualified for three events at the TnT National competition level. WooHoo!
