I have a confession to make…. Hanukkah snuck up on me this year. This may surprise some of you because I do lead a Jewish organization. It was not like I was not aware of when it was. After all, our Jewish Federation has published and shared an 8-year calendar of Jewish holidays with the community and this calendar is taped directly in front of me on my work desk. Plus, just over a week and a half ago, we sent out this year’s Hanukkah Resource Guide that included a collection of great resources, recipes, family activities, and more to help make this year’s Hanukkah celebration that much more festive. And yet, it still snuck up on me. But don’t worry about me… I will make sure to get my fill of latkes and sufganiyot before the holiday is done.

 

Today marks a very important and symbolic day for the nonprofit world – Giving Tuesday. It was created in 2012 as a way to encourage people to support the incredible work of the organizations like the Jewish Federation and many others who work to make the lives of individuals better.  The nonprofit sector – 10 percent of the American workforce or 11.4 million jobs – is the third-largest workforce in the U.S., behind retail and manufacturing.

 

This day can and does serve as a reminder of how much our lives are better because of the nonprofit world and why we need to support them. Imagine what would happen to so many of us if this invaluable group of organizations didn’t exist. What would our lives be like without them?

 

Now, add in that this year’s Giving Tuesday falls between the second and third nights of Hanukkah; something that won’t happen again for another eleven years, and you have a special moment in time.

 

In Hebrew, the word hanukkah means dedication. In the spirit of the basic idea of Hanukkah, please consider giving to your favorite charity… even if you have already supported them this year. Your gift will not only show how much you value the work they do and the impact they make on our community but also will show your dedication to their cause.

 

I hope you and your family continue to have a wonderful Hanukkah and may the collective lights of our menorahs continue to bring more light into our world.