Gayle Rubenstein’s Chanukah Message for 2025

Our world is filled with so many different voices, and yet it can still be difficult for us to show compassion toward beliefs and backgrounds that are not our own. Life is already hard enough — with everything moving so quickly and changing, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse.

But even in all that uncertainty, small acts of kindness, simple efforts to listen, and moments of genuine friendship can make all the difference. My hope is that we can each be a source of light, just like our Chanukah candles, choosing harmony and compassion over conflict and anger.

Let’s light the darkness together and celebrate the miracle of Chanukah with open hearts, hopeful spirits, and a renewed commitment to bringing more goodness into the world.

Chag Chanukah Sameach.

Gayle Rubenstein is with Balloons Over Atlanta/Event Visions, proudly working with AJLF to create the Atlanta Kosher BBQ and the Atlanta Jewish Life Festival.