Hanukah Dreidel Hid Talmudic Study
From the Eyes of Israel's Enemies
By RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX
(Copright, 1951, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
The significance of the "drei-
del" that children use as a spin-
ning top on Hanukah is inter-
preted as symbolizing the fact
that the victory of Hanukah was
a victory of the weak over the
mighty. The children, of course,
represent the weak. The top
represents t h e
wheel of for-
tune.
Looking at the
operation of the
top one Is im-
pressed with the
idea t hat the
outnumbered
and fatigued
ranks of Israel
spun the top of
destiny and changed the tide
of victory. Some writers claim
that the top represents the Al-
mighty's hand which sends life
spinning in any direction it
wishes.
There is an interesting com-
parison between the top used on
Hanukah and the G r o g g e r
(noisemaker) used on Purim.
The grogger is spun from the
bottom symbolizing the fact
that the people of Israel actu-
ally repented a n d were saved
through their own repentance.
The Hanukah Dreidel, spun
from Above, indicates that it
was only the mercy of the Lord
from above that saved the sit-
uation on Hanukah.
The most popular explanation
of the dreidel is the historical
one. According to this reason-
ing the dreidel commemorates
the clever ruse used by the stu-
dents of the Maccabaan era to
avoid government officials who
sought to prevent them from
studying. The tyrannical rule of
that time outlawed the study
gatherings of the Jewish people
As always, the Jews persisted
in the study of the Torah as
their lifeline to the spirit of
God. The groups that assem-
bled in those days conducted
sessions orally. The problem
was to avoid evident signs of
study. This was easily done by
spinning the top on the table
of learning.
The four letters (Nun, Gimel,
Hay, Shin) are the initial let-
ters of the four German words
which indicate the score
achieved by the spinner of the
top should the top fall on that
particular face. The words are
"Nichts," "Gans," "Halb,"
"Shtel" which mean respec-
tively: "Nothing,"- "All," "Half,"
"Put" — which are the gains or
losses of the play.
Many claim the four letters
are the abbreviation of t h e
statement "Nes Gadol Hoyoh
Shorn" which means (in He-
brew) a great miracle happened
there.
Some like to say that the four
letters represent four faculties
of humanity which four op-
ponents of Israel tried to quell.
They a r e "Guf" (the body),
"Sechel" (the intellect) , "Ne-
fesh" (the soul) and "Hakol"
(all). The four empires—Rome,
Babylonia, Greece and Persia
each, in its turn, sought to quell
one of these four elements.
The reasons for eating latkes
on Hanukah is not well known.
Some claim that Judith served
the tyrant either cheese latkes
or cheese cakes thus making
him thirsty. From this the cus-
tom of eating pancakes of all
kinds developed. Others claim
that the Jewish women would
rush to meet the soldiers of
their people and serve them hot
delicacies or latkes.
THE JEWISH NEWS 39
BRUSSELS (JTA)—The Pro-
visional Intergovernmental Com-
mittee for the Movement of Mi-
grants from Europe closed its
first meeting here after naming
American representative George
L. Warren and Belgian represen-
tative Franz Leemans provision-
al directors of the • organization.
It was reported that she dele-
gations of the 16 nations repre-
sented at the conference have
agreed that the-director shall be
an American and that Mr. War-
ren should find the proper per-
son for the post.
The budget of the organiza-
tion, which will take over some
of the functions of the Interna-
tional Refugee Organization
when it is liquidated Jan. 15, is
$36,954,000.
Neumann 'Leaves fOr Israel To Diisteuss Economic Shaker)*
NEW YORK (JTA)—Dr. Ema- 'Ink department in Jerusalem
nuel Neumann, member of the and to confer with Israel gov-
Form Sephardic Congress Jewish Agency Executive, Jeru- ernment leaders on plans for
PARIS, (JTA)—Establishment salem section, left for Israel to further stimulating the flow of
of a World Federation of Sep- reorganize the Agency's econo- private investment capita). t
hardic Communities climaxed
the five-day first world congress
of Sephardic Jews.
Best Wishes 1(0 All
Moshe Sharett, Foreign Min-
Our
Friends and Patrons
ister of Israel, hailed formation
of the federation as a significant
development in Jewish life.
JENSEN. AND KEOUGH
Architects and Engineers
15875
Hanukah Best Wishes
PARKS-MacNIICHAEL, INC.
Detroit
James Couzens 'Hwy.
21, Michigan
UN, 4-3822
Ford Sales and Service
Sincere Holida Greetings
14240 West Seven Mile Road
UNiversity 3-4210
M.
C. GUTHERIE LUMBER CO.
Wholesale and Retail
Office, Mill and Yard
Holiday Greetings
205 SOUTH HARBAUGH
at Wabash
WARREN COLLISION SHOP
R. R.
M. C. GUTHERIE Pres.
Vi 2-1000
Complete Bumping and Painting
Holiday Greetings
TY. 6-1 164
6545 W. Warren
Refrigeration Service, Inc.
Authorized Frigidaire Service
Best Wishes
STIL MAN CONSTRL CTION CO.
UN..4-1597
18494 Mendota
A Joyous Holiday
EDWARD -1EISIEL CO.
• • Reliable Service Since 1916
Season's Greetings
MERRILL-THREM
1111)
fl
TE. 4-5440
1 1 1 1 1 Grand River
On the Hanukah Season
I
LAND CONTRACTS
EALTOR
WO. 1 2655
Hammond Bldg.
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768 PENOBSCOT BLDG.
Everything in Electric Tools
Since 19 Z1.
WO. 1-6030
A complete sales or service on all makes of
Electric Drills, Grinders, Sanders, Saws, etc.
DUMORE EQUIPMENT, JACOBS CHUCKS
Holiday Greetings
HARTWELL CEMENT CO.
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ELECTRIC TO IL SERVICE
6188 Twelfth St., Detroit 8, Mich.
TR.. 3-6060
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Commercial - Industrial - Concrete Work
Hanukah Greetings
YE. 8-8210
15775 SCHAEFER
GOULDING ELECTRIC CO.
Heartiest Holiday- Greetings
314 Beaubien
WO. 1-7099
from
Lafayette Steel Corporation
VI. -2-4115
13501 Sanders
Holiday Greetings
Name Directors of New
Agency Succeeding IRO
DE
Friday, December 21, 1951
HOWES SHOEMAKER CO.
Holiday Greetings
FALL SPRING & WIRE CO.
12350 East 9 Mile Rd.
JEfferson 6-3-535
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Cigarette Vending Machines
Bars - Hotels - Restaurants - Industrial Locations
2373 - 17th
Holiday Greetin,gs
TAshmoo 5-3180
Holiday Best Wishes
Grand Machinery Company
Ace Tool & lie Cot.
Automatic Screw Machines Pails "2 5/8"
8301 Lyndon
WE. 3-3613-14
Fred W. GoObach s Jr.
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