John,

Across the world, small pockets of light are piercing the darkness this week. 

From Buffalo to Brooklyn, Jews are coming together to light their menorahs and share the story of Hanukkah — a story that holds special meaning after everything the Jewish community has endured over the past two months.

It is a story of resilience, perseverance, of tenacity, of the miracle of life, and of a faith that refused to be extinguished.

For too many Jews — both throughout history and across the globe today — the simple act of striking a match, lighting a candle, and singing the Hanukkah prayers has required courage.

The horrific atrocities of October 7 and the recent rise in hate crimes, even just this week against our Jewish brothers and sisters here in New York, are painful proof that antisemitism continues to fester around the world, and that we all must come together to defeat it wherever it rears its ugly head – from our streets to college campuses, to the deepest corners of social media.

In New York, we’ve taken action to protect synagogues, yeshivas, and other places vulnerable to hate crimes, boosted security measures, and taken action to combat online hate at its source. 

The story of Hanukkah teaches us that we can withstand even the starkest hardships when we unite, together. Compassion and tolerance are fundamental New York values and, now more than ever, it is more important to exercise them.

From my family to yours, may your Hanukkah be full of light, joy, and dreidels that never stop spinning. 

Ever upward,

Gov. Kathy Hochul