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Beaverton schools

to accommodate

religious diversity

The Beaverton School District last month passed a policy
recognizing and accommodating religious and cultural be-
liefs, customs and observances for students.
The new policy is similar to a model policy drafted by an
interfaith/intercultural committee convened by the Jewish
Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of
Greater Portland. However, this effort was powered by “a
group of dedicated Beaverton parents with the support of
organizations across the interfaith community,” says JFGP’s
Rachel Nelson, who convened that committee. “It’s really
wonderful to see community come together on important Panelists for the June 30 program “Overturning Roe v. Wade and the Jew-
issues.” ish Response” were, from left: Portland poet and essayest Judith Arcana,
Beaverton School Board members Susan Greenberg and who worked in a pre-Roe illegal abortion clinic; Rabbi Rachel Joseph of
Eric Simpson, both of whom are Jewish, voted for the new Congregation Beth Israel; and emergency physician and County Commis-
policy. sioner Sharon Meieran.
“I’m pleased that the district is acknowledging the impor-
tance of major religious holidays that impact students of Historic, rabbinic and
multiple religions,” says Greenberg.
Simpson says it made sense to update the district’s reli-
gious accommodation policy now. medical perspectives on
“The demographics of districts have changed,” he says.
holidays for them. It made sense to update the policy. It’s court overturning Roe
“Look at who is attending your schools and acknowledge
more inclusive.”
“It was organic from parents of many cultures and reli- “Abortion bans are against my Planned Parenthood Columbia Wil-
gions,” he says, adding that representatives from many religion,” said Rabbi Rachel Jo- lamette and Planned Parenthood
different faiths spoke during the two board meetings with seph during opening remarks Advocates of Oregon and is a mem-
public comment on the change. “There were no naysayers at the June 30 panel discussion ber of the National Clergy Advisory
I saw.” “Overturning Roe v Wade and the Board for Americans United for
Simpson personally understands the challenges people Jewish Response.” Separation of Church and State.
from cultures that are not in the majority face. When he Also on the panel were Judith Ar- She said it is important to be ex-
was a student, he says missing school for Rosh Hashanah cana, a Portland poet and essayist plicit on her views: “I am religious,
and Yom Kippur blocked his quest for perfect attendance who was a member of Chicago’s and I believe in all aspects of re-
recognition. pre-Roe underground abortion productive freedom. I believe in
“The Beaverton School District passed a policy recognizing service, and Dr. Sharon Meieran, a abortion.”
and accommodating religious and cultural beliefs, customs Multnomah County commissioner Arcana, who appears in the new
and observances for students,” reads a June 24 Facebook and emergency room physician. HBO documentary “The Janes,”
post by Beaverton City Councilor Nadia Hasan. “Powered Hundreds of people attended on- provided firsthand historical per-
by community, leaders from different faiths and walks of life line and in the auditorium at the spective on living when abortion
came together to support students who often have to navigate Oregon Jewish Museum and Cen- is illegal. She was one of about a
the need for taking off time due to a religious holiday. Prior ter for Holocaust Education. The half-dozen “Janes” who “learned
to this policy, it was at staff discretion to provide flexibility program was co-sponsored by the the medical stuff” and performed
for a student who may need a day off in terms of missing a Jewish Federation of Greater Port- low-cost and free illegal abortions
test or turning in a major assignment.” land and Congregation Beth Israel, in the late 1960s until a couple
The model policy developed by the interfaith coalition has where Rabbi Joseph serves as as- months after Roe v Wade made
been submitted to the Oregon School Boards Association. sociate rabbi. abortion legal in 1973.
It was set to be voted on at the May meeting but has been During the Q&A session, Rabbi “When abortion is not health care,
tabled until fall, according to Nelson, Federation’s Director Joseph elaborated on her opening it is homicide … it was in Illinois,
of Educational Initiatives and Associate Director Of Com- statement. and I’m betting it will be again,”
munity Relations. “My religion, the God of my un- said Arcana.
The interfaith coalition developed the policy modeled on a derstanding, says abortion is OK Dr. Meieran said the abortion is-
religious accommodations policy adopted in October 2020 and sometimes mandated,” she sue is front and center with all her
by the Eugene School District 4J. Nelson says the policy sent said. She added that over the past identities. Though she does not
to the state association is a slightly modified policy that has 50 years, “We have ceded religion consider herself religious, she said
been developed by the interfaith/intercultural committee. to the evangelical Christians and that as a Jew, those who argue that
“It is very encouraging to see one of Oregon’s largest the religious right … who do not abortion is a religious issue “are
school districts adopt a sound policy based on that model,” speak for us.” violating my religious freedom.”
says Bob Horenstein, Community Relations Director. She serves on the boards of Continued on next page
6 Jewish Review July 6, 2022