ajc1225

BY MYRA CLARK-SIEGEL, AJC WESTCHESTER/FAIRFIELD REGIONAL DIRECTOR

As we gather to celebrate Hanukkah this year, the lights we place in our windows feel more essential than ever. They are small flames, fragile at first glance, yet powerful enough to cut through darkness—not only the darkness of winter, but the darker forces of hatred, isolation, and fear that too often try to take hold in our world.

In my work with American Jewish Committee (AJC) Westchester/Fairfield, I am privileged to witness how our community responds when that darkness presses close. Over the past two years, we have stood shoulder-to-shoulder through heartbreak, challenge, and uncertainty. We have raised our voices together; determined to defend the dignity and security of the Jewish people and Israel to strengthen the bonds with our allies. And through it all, we have discovered once again the truth at the heart of the Hanukkah story: resilience is a sacred inheritance.

Hanukkah teaches us that miracles arise when ordinary people refuse to give up. A single day’s worth of oil becomes eight days of endurance. A small group of defenders becomes a nation restored. That same spirit fuels our work today. Every conversation we lead, every partnership we nurture, every effort to push back against antisemitism is a modern act of rededication—our own chanukat bayit, renewing and strengthening the communal home we share.

And the most powerful part is this: Each of us has a voice that matters. AJC is where that voice is amplified, where conviction becomes action, and where personal strength becomes collective impact. Your courage, your presence, your willingness to stand up—they are the light that keeps our community burning bright.

As we kindle the menorah this year, may its glow remind us that even after tragedy, we rise. We rebuild. We choose life. And we bring light.

Wishing you and your families a Hanukkah filled with hope, resilience, and enduring joy.

AJC (American Jewish Committee) is the global advocacy organization of the Jewish people. To learn more or learn how to be a strong Jewish advocate, email westchester@ajc.org or go to ajc.org.