Hanukkah Wishes from NCJW President Nancy Ratzan

Hanukkah, just a week away, is a holiday of miracles. We celebrate the victory of a small group of grassroots activists who, facing annihilation, stood up and prevailed against a powerful army. We also celebrate the miracle of an insufficient supply of oil that lasted all the days for which it was needed. The hope that embodies Hanukkah provides inspiration for us today.

The recent election season reaffirmed that grassroots action is the most positive and powerful way to create change.  And we live in a world where one person's dollars or one person's time in her community can have a real and lasting impact on the lives of those in need. Through our action and our dollars we create miracles; we band together as a group of grassroots activists that stands up to armies of challenges and ensures that even scarce resources will last long enough to serve the needs of many.

I am deeply grateful to you, the 90,000 NCJW members and supporters who are poised to ensure the miracle of social change. Thank you for your steadfast commitment to devoting the resources needed to effect positive change in our neighborhoods and across the nation.  

In the spirit of this holiday of miracles, I ask you to be the shamash -- the lead candle that ignites others -- by sharing this message with eight people so that they can sign up for the NCJW Action Center and join our community of advocates working on behalf of women, children, and families. Give your friends and family the ability to turn their ideals into action; give them the gift of transforming their values into victories. And let us come together to make the light of a grassroots movement see us through to a brighter future.

Happy Hanukkah!

Nancy Ratzan
NCJW President