Along with all the happy and joyous traditions we have at this time of year, it has unfortunately become the norm in many places to take this time to vandalize religious symbols, houses of worship or even cemeteries. My students are often surprised to hear that anti-Semitism is alive and well in this country. It is on the one hand nice to see that there is still innocence in this world and on the other hand sad to see that they - or their parents - have their eyes closed to the realities around us.

I would hope that we as adoptive parents, who hopefully take more time in teaching our children about tolerance and acceptance of differences, can lead the way in changing the moral standards in our communities and our nation at large.

A holiday menorah in front of a Bay Shore synagogue was knocked to the ground and destroyed early Monday morning, the second such hate crime in the county this month, Suffolk police said.

Congregants of the Jewish Center of Bay Shore arrived around 9 a.m. for services Monday and discovered that their large, metal menorah with all nine candles lit had been pushed onto the grass. The electric candles were dangling off, and one of the arms was disconnected... this article continued at Newsday.com

Police in Houston and Fort Bend County are investigating two incidents in which Jewish holiday decorations were vandalized.

Investigators do not know if the cases are related but the regional director of the Houston Anti-Defamation League, Martin Cominsky, said he is concerned about the incidents... continued at the Houston Chronicle

Two Silicon Valley menorahs were vandalized over Hanukkah, the latest crime coming Thursday night when a rabbi arrived at his Sunnyvale center to find the 5-foot-high candelabra dragged away from its place, candles snuffed and stolen, and the steel body bent in half.

A Mountain View menorah placed in front of the city's civic center was also damaged Dec. 15, the first night of the Jewish observance. Late that night a rabbi discovered the menorah's lights had been smashed and the wires yanked out... continued at the Mercury News