I was born in the middle of the winter in Ottawa, Canada, in the darkest and coldest time of the year. Maybe this is why my life's mission has been to banish darkness (and also why I really hate cold weather...).

This week, we will celebrate Hanukkah in the darkest season of one of the darkest years in memory, a darkness that threatens to overwhelm us and swallow up our light.

 But amid this darkness, I choose to remind us of the lights.

Just like the eight lights of Hannukah, here are eight reasons to rekindle hope this year. I will think of them as I light my hannukiah. I hope they will inspire your hope as well.

I will light a candle to honor the families of the hostages, who refuse to give up, admiring their resilience and bravery, their dedication and activism on behalf of their loved ones. I'm proud of how we have supported them, holding havdalah ceremonies every Shabbat for 15 months at the beginning of the rallies they organize, and raising a clear voice calling on the government to bring them home as a top priority.

I will light a candle in honor of the hundreds of thousands of people we have marched with to defend democracy and resist the government's assault on our judiciary. The commitment to protect Israel as a Jewish and democratic society is remarkable and unprecedented and we will continue persist along with so many Israelis

I will light a candle to honor the resilience and energy of our civil society, to all the individual citizens who volunteered their time and energy for the benefit of the people, supporting families evacuated from their homes in the south and the north, those burdened with the absence of family members called up to serve in reserve duty, and those who have lost loved ones.

I will light a candle to honor and welcome all those who became Israeli citizens in 2024 because of the amazing work of our Legal Aid Center for Olim (LACO).

I will light a candle to honor the hundreds of people who chose Reform conversion this year in Israel, embracing Judaism in their own way and making Israeli society more pluralistic.

I will light a candle to honor all who helped us fight racism, extremism, and hatred, working to build a shared society for Jews and Palestinians, a society based on mutual respect and coexistence.

I will light a candle to honor our communities and rabbis who rose to the task and offered help and solace to so many Israelis in a year filled with enormous challenges.

I will light a candle to honor the global solidarity of Jews around the world who supported Israel’s fight for democracy while confronting rising antisemitism in their own societies.

And I will add an additional ninth candle for the safe return of the hostages. We will not rest until each and every one is brought home.

I wish you a Hanukkah filled with light and hope.