As a Rabbi, I have always found it somewhat curious the way the general North American public looks upon the festival of Chanukah. While actually a relatively minor holiday in the Jewish calendar, it is given much significance in Western society. But what I also find fascinating is the way that North America had to simultaneously transform Chanukah into a festivity that relates to the North American consciousness. If people are going to be celebrating this holiday then it better have a meaning with which these individuals can connect.

Without question the extremist fanatics that are harassing and scaring and even physically attacking the little girls as they walk to school in Beit Shemesh are certainly wrong. They are wrong on so many levels. But the question for the Jewish people is: What are we going to do about it?