Holding Each Other In Heart
Today, on the one-year anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the ongoing grief in our community and extend our prayers for peace and healing.
This tragedy has deeply affected many in our community, some of whom have lost friends and family or fear for the safety of loved ones. We stand with them in their pain, holding them in our hearts during this time of loss and uncertainty. We recognize that the trauma of these events ripples far beyond those directly involved, touching all of us as we witness the brutal consequences of violence and conflict. We may lament as one the enormous loss of life and health, the dislocation from homes, and the loss of security and peaceful routines throughout the middle east.
Our community is built on compassion, empathy, and a commitment to mutual learning. In Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, the inherent dignity of all human beings is a sacred principle. The Torah reminds us, “God created humankind in His own image” (Genesis 1:27), a message of shared humanity and equal worth. Similarly, the Qur’an declares, “We have certainly honored the children of Adam” (Surah 17:70), emphasizing the equal dignity of all people, regardless of race, gender, or religion. Jesus declared that the commandment to “Love your neighbor as yourself” is equal to the commandment to love God (Matthew 23:39-40).
This summer, faculty and staff read a book called I Never Thought Of It That Way by Mónica Guzmán, which encourages the practice of engaging with those who hold different viewpoints. In times of intense conflict, there is always a risk of division. We hope that the Campbell Hall community can continue to prioritize learning and dialogue, while also supporting each other’s values and beliefs. Respectful inquiry and moral clarity can co-exist - that will always be our message to our students. Along with ongoing prayers in chapel and counseling support, we will continue to provide relevant, balanced educational opportunities to students as appropriate.
Our deepest prayer is always that we may live up to our own ideals, even in the midst of world crises. We close with these prayerful words from the Campbell Hall Collect and mission statement:
This tragedy has deeply affected many in our community, some of whom have lost friends and family or fear for the safety of loved ones. We stand with them in their pain, holding them in our hearts during this time of loss and uncertainty. We recognize that the trauma of these events ripples far beyond those directly involved, touching all of us as we witness the brutal consequences of violence and conflict. We may lament as one the enormous loss of life and health, the dislocation from homes, and the loss of security and peaceful routines throughout the middle east.
Our community is built on compassion, empathy, and a commitment to mutual learning. In Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, the inherent dignity of all human beings is a sacred principle. The Torah reminds us, “God created humankind in His own image” (Genesis 1:27), a message of shared humanity and equal worth. Similarly, the Qur’an declares, “We have certainly honored the children of Adam” (Surah 17:70), emphasizing the equal dignity of all people, regardless of race, gender, or religion. Jesus declared that the commandment to “Love your neighbor as yourself” is equal to the commandment to love God (Matthew 23:39-40).
This summer, faculty and staff read a book called I Never Thought Of It That Way by Mónica Guzmán, which encourages the practice of engaging with those who hold different viewpoints. In times of intense conflict, there is always a risk of division. We hope that the Campbell Hall community can continue to prioritize learning and dialogue, while also supporting each other’s values and beliefs. Respectful inquiry and moral clarity can co-exist - that will always be our message to our students. Along with ongoing prayers in chapel and counseling support, we will continue to provide relevant, balanced educational opportunities to students as appropriate.
Our deepest prayer is always that we may live up to our own ideals, even in the midst of world crises. We close with these prayerful words from the Campbell Hall Collect and mission statement:
Even in the midst of our pain, Lord, we ask you to help us grow.
Help us to do the things we should, to be to others kind and good,
In all we do and all we say, to grow more loving every day.
Help us to be the smart, decent, loving, and responsible human beings
You call us to be.
Help us to be the ones who will repair the fabric of this suffering world.
Amen.
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Head of School Julian Bull
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Canon Bull earned his Bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College, his Master’s in Philosophy from Boston College, and his Master’s in Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary. He is an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church. Prior to joining Campbell Hall in 2003, Canon Bull served as Head of Trinity Episcopal School in New Orleans and as the Assistant Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dean of Students, Chair of the Diversity Committee, and Director of the Senior Humanities Program at Albuquerque Academy. He has served on the Boards of the National Association of Episcopal Schools, the Independent School Association of the Southwest, St. James’ Episcopal School, the Louisiana Children’s Museum, the Steering Committee for the Los Angeles School Heads, the Studio City Neighborhood Council, and has chaired the last two search committees for bishops of Los Angeles. He currently serves as the Chair of the Commission on Schools of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and the Board of the Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education. He and his wife Katie have enjoyed raising their two sons as 13-year Campbell Hall students. Canon Bull enjoys tennis, hiking, and playing bridge in his spare time.
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Phone 818.980.7280
Phone 818.980.7280
Campbell Hall is an independent, Episcopal, K-12 all gender day school. We are a community of inquiry committed to academic excellence and to the nurturing of decent, loving, and responsible human beings.
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