Jews throughout the Kansas City area are celebrating the first night of Hanukkah, with traditions like lighting the menorah, playing dreidel and eating latkes.
But Rabbi Mark Levin, the Founding Rabbi of Congregation Beth Torah, told KCUR's Up To Date the ongoing stress and carnage of the war in the Middle East has caused the festivities to take on a much different mood.
"The other part is, of course, the rise of antisemitism in the United States, which is worse than anytime since before the second World War," Levin said.
- Rabbi Stephanie Kramer, Senior Rabbi at The Temple, Congregation B'nai Jehudah
- Rabbi Mark Levin, Founding Rabbi at Congregation Beth Torah
