A Chanukah Message from Shari Bayer

“Hello Hello!” sang The Beatles in 1967’s “Hello Goodbye.” This is what I’m most thankful for this year. After a year of so many goodbyes — including my dad, who died of COVID late in 2020 — 2021 began the return to “hello.” Hello to a life-changing vaccine. Hello to in-person school. Hello to carefully unmasking, hello to college tours. Hello to a new president.

I’m grateful our community came together to support one another during the darkest days of the pandemic. I am lucky that my job afforded me the opportunity to witness so much generosity from so many people. I’m thankful I work amongst the bravest heroes in healthcare — those who put aside their own fears and said goodbye to their own families each day so they could say hello and I love you to all of our loved ones when families could not be there.

In this season of Light, may we all see the Miracles.

Shari Bayer is the chief marketing and communications officer of Jewish HomeLife.