WRJ does not tolerate, in any form or at any time, discrimination, harassment,
bullying, sexual misconduct, threats, intimidation, menacing, or any other offensive
behavior or acts against anyone in our community or participating in our events.
This includes but is not limited to actions taken against others based on their race,
age, religion, disability, marital status, veteran status, nationality, sexual
orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, physical appearance, size,
ethnicity, origin, religion, class, or any other identity.
Critical areas of concern include but are not limited to bullying, sexual harassment
or misconduct, and inclusion.
Bullying
Bullying is unwanted, hostile behavior, either as a single act or repeated over time, committed with the intent to degrade, humiliate, or oppress another person. It may include:
- Verbal behavior such as making threats, inappropriate sexual comments, and
taunting;
- Social misbehavior such as spreading rumors and purposeful exclusion;
- Physical behavior that involves hurting another individual’s body or damaging
possessions;
- Cyberbullying, such as persistent, unwanted texts, phone calls, or social media messages, or posting private, personal information of others online (known as “doxing”)
Bullying typically involves a real or perceived power imbalance such as using
popularity, position, physical strength, or access to embarrassing information in
order to control or harm others. Thus, it is important to note that while bullying will not be tolerated, respectful disagreement and good-faith critiques of one’s work and activities, even if sometimes harsh, are not bullying. Individuals’ ability to disagree and/or share ideas and concerns openly and without reprisal must not be compromised and will be respected and protected.
Sexual Harassment or Misconduct
Sexual harassment includes, for example, unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors, and other unwelcome verbal, physical, or visual conduct of a sexual nature when:
- Such conduct has the purpose or effect, intentionally or unintentionally, of
unreasonably interfering with an individual’s participation, work, or volunteer
performance, or otherwise creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive
environment.
- Submission to such conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of an individual’s standing as a participant, volunteer, or employee.
- Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as a basis for participation in a WRJ event, employment decisions, or decisions concerning volunteer assignments, whether or not such decisions have direct economic consequences.
Conduct of this nature diminishes us all and compromises our ability – individually and collectively – to demonstrate our commitment to living lives that reflect ourJewish values.
DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)
Participants, staff, and volunteers of WRJ programs will meet and work with people
from backgrounds (i.e., races, cultures, genders, socioeconomics, etc.) different
from their own. People from historically marginalized backgrounds – including
People of Color, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, or people with disabilities – are
frequently asked questions about their backgrounds or identities that serve to
further marginalize them and separate them from others. For example, in Jewish
spaces, Jews of Color are often subject to questions and comments about their
authenticity.
All participants, staff, and volunteers in WRJ programs are asked to recognize the
diversity of the Jewish people and to continually challenge dominant ideas of who
“looks Jewish.”
Please note that the conduct of WRJ employees is governed by the URJ Employee
Handbook, and the conduct of WRJ volunteers, staff and independent contractors is
governed by the URJ Ethics Code and WRJ Policy on Harassment.