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:

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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4533 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Studio City, CA 91607
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.
Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students
Campbell Hall admits students of any race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletics and other school-administered programs.
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