| It is rare that I question the accepted origins of a | | | | sort of conclusion, and who knows? They might |
| Jewish custom, but the Dreidel, Yiddish for a top, | | | | suddenly unearth a fossilized Dreidel fragment |
| seems altogether mysterious to me. As I think | | | | from Greek times or something, or maybe even |
| back to elementary school when I first heard the | | | | an entire room of skeletons with yarmulkes |
| explanation as to why we spin these things | | | | holding Dreidels in their left hands and leaning over |
| around on Hanukkah, I remember I was in first | | | | to stuff Torahs under seat cushions with their |
| grade, so I didn't really protest. The explanation | | | | right, and corroborate the old theory. But in any |
| was, when the Syrian Greeks were snooping | | | | case, here's what I'm thinking. |
| around enforcing King Antiochus IV tyrannical | | | | There is nothing religious about a Dreidel. It is an |
| decrees that Jewish religious learning was | | | | entirely secular habit connected with gambling, |
| forbidden, the Jews had to hide their books and | | | | which is definitely looked down upon by Jewish |
| whip out the Dreidels, pretending they were | | | | law. In fact, anyone who makes their living |
| merely gambling. | | | | gambling is forbidden from serving as a witness in |
| I thought about that as a kid, and it made enough | | | | court. In Talmudic terms, it is called "Mesachek |
| sense I guess. The Greek centurion would politely | | | | Bekubia" or "dice playing." |
| knock on the door, and the Jews would quickly | | | | Why is it acceptable on Hanukkah? |
| stuff their Torahs and whatnot under the seat | | | | Perhaps because Hanukkah is a holiday |
| cushion, flip the Dreidels out of their pockets and | | | | commemorating the near assimilation of Judaism |
| start gambling away as the Centurion entered and | | | | into Hellenism. Eventually, Judaism won out and |
| verified that indeed there was not Torah learning | | | | rededicated (Hanukkah in Hebrew) its Holy |
| going on. Next house. | | | | Temple, but the struggle must not be forgotten. |
| But now that I think about it, and I admit I | | | | A small symbol of that assimilation may just be a |
| haven't thought about this in a long time, this | | | | little innocuous game played in Greek culture, |
| seems rather ludicrous. Other than being infantile | | | | which may have involved a top. |
| and childish, there's just no way that any Greek | | | | Maybe it's better that people don't particularly |
| would kindly knock on a door and anyone would | | | | know the origins of a Dreidel. We can keep the |
| have time to shove away books and start | | | | struggle alive in our actions, but not understanding |
| gambling. Wouldn't that in itself look suspicious? | | | | where a Dreidel even comes from could be the |
| And dumb, even? | | | | final Jewish joke against Hellenism. It's as if to say, |
| Here's another possible explanation, and I admit | | | | "We'll keep you alive, Hellen, but in such a sorry |
| that I have no documentation or proof of any | | | | state that you'll be beyond any and all recognition." |
| sort that this is the truth. I am only reflecting my | | | | And so...the Dreidel keeps spinning, its secret safe |
| own values on this ritual to come up with some | | | | with those of you who read this article. |