Hanukkah reminds us of who we are. In a world that can feel dark, ours is a tradition that insists on lighting the way. The Hanukkah flames are a public declaration of our courage and hope; a reminder that even a small light can push back against fear, hatred, despair – and darkness.

Guided by enduring values, we are a people who endure.

Our belief that every life has worth, that compassion is a responsibility, and that we are not meant to accept the world as it is, but to help make it better for everyone. These values have carried our people through every generation, and they will carry us now. As we struggle to make sense of the senseless and mourn an unspeakable loss, we will hold one another close, and we will refuse to let fear define us.

Our response will be what it has always been: to live our values more boldly, and to bring even more light into the world.

At Ve’ahavta, those values take shape on the streets of Toronto. In the depth of winter, when the city is cold, dark, and unforgiving, our van becomes a kind of moving hanukkiah – bringing light into places where it is needed most.

It carries hot meals, warm clothing, and essential supplies. Just as importantly, it brings compassion, recognition, and human connection. It sheds light on people who are often unseen and shows them, through action, that they matter and that they are not alone.

And although one night of help makes a difference, it is when the van shows up again and again that it becomes something far more powerful. It becomes trust. And the difference between just making it through the night and having hope for tomorrow.

For many, that hope is set in motion when we refer them into our Pre-Employment programs. There, fueled by our belief that people are not defined by their past, we help them to release the light within them and support them as they change the trajectory of their lives.

Our ability to show up consistently is only possible because of you. Donors who give steadily, community members who volunteer shift after shift, and staff who brave all conditions to keep guiding people toward their next steps. Together, we turn our shared values into real-world care.

Together, we make sure the light doesn’t flicker or fade where it is needed most. Together, we ignite the light in others.

Hanukkah teaches that light lasts when it is protected and tended. Ve’ahavta’s work is built on that same truth. We are sustained by enduring values and by an enduring community committed to bring dignity, warmth, and hope into dark places.

If you’re able, please support our work this Hanukkah. Help keep the van on the road, people enrolled in our life-changing programs, the light shining, and our values alive in the world. Because this is who we are: a people who choose light, choose life, and choose to make the world better for everyone.

With deep gratitude,

Cari Kozierok,
CEO, Ve’ahavta