My grandson asks me this question:

as I asked my father, and as my grandfather

asked his, and as children have asked their

elders for as long as there have been Dreidels.

I tell him that it is my pleasure to play,

and it is.

As I spin the top, he watches eagerly,

and turns his pennies over in his fingers.

His mind whirls like a top to many places:

to the sizzling Latkes, to the menorah lights.

He anticipates the nightly rituals:

the wonderful songs, the presents, and the gelt:

bright gold outside, and soft chocolate inside.

He enjoys the expectation of every move,

and the potential "Gimmel" at any time.

It doesn't matter if we are playing for pennies,

for gelt, or just for fun:

Dreidel is always special.

The Dreidel connects us to all Jews,

and to its important message:

A great miracle happened there.

We see the image of children studying Torah,

hiding their books as Syrian Soldiers approach.

I smile at the thought of the opposite;

children turning their tops to learn knowledge.

The Dreidel teaches us the values of play,

of learning, of family and of being present.

It reminds us of miracles of times long ago,

And of today,

The blessings and presents,

And of a great time yet to come.