In light of the lives lost in Saturday’s mass hate-crime shooting in Pittsburgh, the FXW community extends heartfelt prayers as we stand in solidarity with our families of Jewish faith and the victims and members of Tree of Life Synagogue.

As a Community of Faith that is also Purposefully Diverse and Intentionally Inclusive, FXW treasures the gift of ecumenical spiritual enrichment. Faced with an ever-changing world, our values and our mission sustain us. We can and must be a place where spirits soar, and where students, faculty, and parents pursue not only excellence but also love in all that we do.

Today we are yet again faced with a moment in time to further extend ourselves and strengthen our ties to all faith-filled communities in an effort to enhance our capacity to address some of the most pressing problems facing society today. We must seize the opportunity to infuse our tradition of inclusivity with a heightened spirit of collaboration that will not only contribute to our vibrant community but also to the city and world around us. It is our hope that this Tuesday’s dialogue on diversity, equity, and inclusion will cause us to lean into ways we can be even more inclusive of one another, and in particular, our Jewish brothers and sisters who are in need of our prayers and our support. James 2:20 says that “faith without works is dead.” We stand poised and ready to pursue our strategic objectives and strengthen our ability to adapt to the changing needs of the FXW community and the world.

Let us close with this version of the Kaddish, an ancient Jewish prayer sequence regularly recited in the synagogue service, including thanksgiving and praise and concluding with a prayer for universal peace. It is also a prayer that mourners recite during a bereavement period and to mark the anniversary of the death of a loved one.

Exalted and hallowed be God’s great name in the world which God created, according to plan. May God’s majesty be revealed in the days of our lifetime and the life of all Israel — speedily, imminently, to which we say: Amen.

Blessed be God’s great name to all eternity.

Blessed, praised, honored, exalted, extolled, glorified, adored, and lauded be the name of the Holy Blessed One, beyond all earthly words and songs of blessing, praise, and comfort. To which we say: Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and all Israel. To which we say: Amen.
May the One who creates harmony on high, bring peace for us and to all Israel. To which we say: Amen.

We offer our peace to each of you and to our world,

Michael Kennedy, Head of School
Erin Horne, Principal & Director of Education
Kendall Mallette, Director of Mission Integration