Hanukkah is the festival of light — a reminder that even a small flame can push back overwhelming darkness.
This year, as we mark Hanukkah, we do so with both gratitude and grief.
On December 14, during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, a terrorist attack took the lives of 15 innocent people, including a child. Authorities have confirmed the attack was an antisemitic act of terror.
Boris and Sofia Gorman, may their memory be blessed, a Jewish couple from Sydney, were murdered in the massacre after a heroic struggle with one of the terrorists.
Families gathered to celebrate light and faith were met instead with hatred and violence.
Our hearts ache for the victims, their families, and the Jewish community in Australia.
We mourn with them.
We stand with them.
And we say clearly: the Jewish people will not be broken.
Hanukkah Reminds Us Why We Must Keep the Light Burning
Hanukkah was never just a story about candles.
It is about choosing faith over fear, identity over erasure, and life over hatred.
For more than two years, Israel’s soldiers, families, and communities have stood against terror — in Gaza tunnels, on the freezing northern border, and now as antisemitism resurges far beyond Israel’s borders.
What happened in Bondi Beach is a painful reminder:
The fight against antisemitism and terror is global.
And the need for courage and unity has never been greater.
Light on the Front Lines
Even this week, IDF soldiers lit Hanukkah candles on bases, in the field, and in armored vehicles. Their hands were cold. Their faces tired. But the flame still burned.
One soldier told us:
“When we light candles out here, we remember what we’re protecting — not just Israel, but the right to live openly as Jews.”
Your support makes these moments possible.
The winter gear.
The warm meals.
The protective equipment.
The quiet reminder that they are not alone.
The 252nd Division didn’t have a Menorah in Gaza, so they built one out of spent shell packaging.
Light in Hospitals and Homes
Across Israel, wounded soldiers lit candles beside hospital beds, surrounded by parents, spouses, and children who have carried unimaginable weight for far too long.
One wounded warrior shared:
“The war changed my body. Hanukkah reminds me it didn’t take my soul.”
Families displaced from their homes.
Parents waiting for children to return.
Communities still rebuilding.
They are all part of this story of resilience.
Our Commitment: To Be the Light
In a world where hatred still strikes families celebrating Hanukkah on a beach — and soldiers defending their homeland in the rain — we recommit ourselves to being a source of light, protection, and compassion.
Through your generosity, the Make A Difference Foundation continues to provide:
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Winter gear for soldiers standing guard
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Support for wounded warriors in recovery
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Assistance for families carrying the burden of war
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Direct, personal care delivered with dignity and love
This is how we answer darkness: with action, unity, and unwavering resolve.
This Hanukkah, we invite you to honor the memories of those lost, stand with those still fighting, and bring hope to those rebuilding their lives.
Donate Now – Be the Light This Hanukkah
Your gift is more than support.
It is a declaration that the Jewish people will endure.
With gratitude,