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To our dearest Temple Israel and Education Center community,

Our hearts are broken at the news of today’s school shooting at the St. Louis City Central Visual and Performing Arts High School (VPA). We have members, friends, and loved ones who reside and work in the city, or who taught or attended VPA, and it seems so unfathomable that this tragedy has hit so close to home. For some children, having this happen in St. Louis may seem especially frightening, so if you’re looking for resources on how to have these difficult conversations, here are some that you can use to help your child process these feelings.
 
During the Kol Nidre sermon, Rabbi Amy spoke of the way that every synagogue finds a balance between being as welcoming as possible and being as safe as possible, and at Temple Israel, we prioritize safety. It pains us to have to share these words yet again, but please know that our Temple and school community are prepared and dedicated to continuing to do everything in our power to maintain the highest level of security standards to keep our community safe.

May God bring comfort to those whose lives have been forever shattered, and may we not let this be just another incident that fades into our memories. Give us the strength, the wisdom, and the courage to be changemakers, and to recognize that the power to repair the world truly is in our hands.

We invite you to join us for Shabbat services this Friday as we gather as a community and turn our hearts toward the families and faculty of Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, the communities affected by this tragedy, and our beloved City of St. Louis.

In-person Shabbat services registration: RSVP for services here
Watch this week’s Shabbat service virtually
 
Thank you for your support and for trusting us to do our part to keep Temple Israel a safe place to gather, worship, and educate your children.

Rabbi Amy & Rabbi Michael

afeder@ti-stl.org
malper@ti-stl.org