“After serving in the war, coming home to stand by my wife in the delivery room and hold our newborn while lighting the first Hanukkah candle is an indescribable joy,” said Roee, who returned from extended reserve duty just hours before his wife, Nicole, gave birth to their third child. Together, as they embraced their “light of the year,” the couple lit a candle on The Jewish Agency’s digital menorah, part of the "Global Glow" initiative, aimed at creating a powerful display of Jewish unity worldwide.
They weren’t alone. Hundreds of thousands of Jews from around the globe and Israel lit candles during the eight days of Hanukkah using the world’s largest digital menorah. “Knowing that Jews from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Belgium and France are all lighting candles with us on the same menorah—it’s an empowering and uplifting thought,” shared Nicole and Roee Haddad.
More than 50 countries participated in this display of Jewish unity, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, South Africa, France, the UK, Germany, Italy, Austria, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Russia and Ukraine.
Participants were invited to leave personal messages and tens of thousands of blessings and prayers poured in—even from unexpected places like Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Madagascar and more. Among the heartfelt messages alongside the digital candlelight, prayers for the safe return of the hostages stood out prominently.
“I hope we can end this war quickly, bring security and most importantly, bring the hostages home,” said Roee, adding his voice to global messages of hope. Haddad, 35, immigrated to Israel alone from Belgium in his youth, and for him, the widespread light of Hanukkah holds a special memory.
“One of the most moving things about my first Hanukkah in Israel was seeing menorahs everywhere and people lighting them together across the country—it’s something I had never experienced before.”
Roee made Aliyah through the "Wings" program, operated by The Jewish Agency and the Merage Foundation Israel, with support from the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. The program supports young Olim who arrive in Israel alone, guiding them through their pre-army preparation, military service and up to five years post-service.
Like many of his fellow reservists, Roee spent most of the past year on reserve duty during the Swords of Iron War. He left behind his pregnant wife, Nicole, an immigrant from Uruguay, who was caring for their two daughters.
“It wasn’t easy to go to reserve duty in that situation, and even now, while I’m with my family, I know we’re always between rounds of service,” he shared.
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Across the ocean in Cincinnati, Ohio, Ilan Goldman also lit a candle on The Jewish Agency's “Global Glow” digital menorah. Goldman serves on the committee of the Cincinnati-Columbus partnership with Kibbutz Karmia in southern Israel, a part of the Jewish Agency's "Partnership2Gether" network, which connects Jewish communities worldwide with communities in Israel.
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Jewish Agency shlichim (emissaries) at Israel solidarity rally in New York
(Photo: Jennifer Roman)
As part of the “Communities2Gether” initiative, the network facilitated the creation of 26 new partnerships between southern Israeli communities and global Jewish communities, ensuring long-term support for the affected areas.
Goldman, who lost his childhood friend Shiran Ganon at the Nova music festival, participated in efforts led by the federation and the local Jewish community to raise approximately $7 million over the past year to aid Nova survivors and provide support for soldiers in collaboration with The Jewish Agency.
“My silver lining is seeing that we are stronger despite internal disagreements,” said Goldman, who also visited Kibbutz Karmia this year as part of the partnership. “The bond between Jews here in the U.S. and those in the Gaza border region—and in Israel as a whole—strengthens both sides in the face of challenges like antisemitism and the war in Israel.”
The Jewish Agency’s global initiative aims to emphasize the strategic partnership between Israel and world Jewry in addressing key challenges facing the Jewish people: strengthening Israel during the war and supporting Jewish communities confronting rising antisemitism.
To symbolize the bond, the menorah was projected onto the National Institutions Building in Jerusalem and at various locations worldwide in collaboration with the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Federations of North America and Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal.
‘We’re back home and able to light the menorah again in Kibbutz Eilon’
From the U.S. back to Israel, in Kibbutz Eilon in the Western Galilee, Linat Karmisi and her three children joined in lighting the "Global Glow" menorah. The Karmisi family was forced to move repeatedly during the war's early days due to the evacuation of their kibbutz.
"At first, we moved to Parod, then to Kibbutz Ga’aton, and later to Nahariya, where we stayed for most of the last few months. Only two weeks ago, we were finally able to return home to the kibbutz," Linat shared. "The feeling of coming back home is amazing—more exciting than moving into a new house. My eldest daughter, who’s 16, danced around the house that night; you can see how happy she is.”
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The menorah was projected onto the The Jewish Agency headquarters in Jerusalem
(Photo: The Jewish Agency)
Supporting Linat and her three children through this challenging year was Mazal, a mentor with The Jewish Agency’s "Youth Futures" program. This long-standing initiative provides crucial support and guidance for families and children in emergency situations and has been instrumental during the war.
Over the past year, thousands of children and their families from Israel’s geographic and social periphery have been supported through "Youth Futures." Currently, the program is expanding to assist an additional 1,600 families in the north and south of Israel, thanks to partnerships with global and Israeli organizations, including the Jewish Federations of North America, the Mandel Foundation, Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal, Mifal HaPais, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry for the Development of the Negev and Galilee.
"'Youth Futures' has supported my family and me for over three years. My son Ori joined the program during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 crisis, and from that challenging period, an incredible and meaningful bond with Mazal was formed," Linat explained.
"Together, Mazal helped Ori plan his journey to becoming a basketball player in the league. His sister Rona also joined the program this past September, and since then, we’ve seen an amazing bond between her and Mazal and the positive impact it has had."
Mazal became a mentor not only for the children but also for Linat. "She was part of helping me maintain my own light— along with my job, which provided routine and stability, and the company of other evacuated friends who understand what we’ve been through. Most importantly, now we’re back home and able to light the menorah again in Kibbutz Eilon. For the year ahead, I wish for us all, first and foremost, a peaceful, routine life. I hope we can create as many positive experiences as possible. May it be a quiet year."