The Dreydel

• There are four letters on the dreydel. Nun, Gimel, Hay, and Shin, (in Eretz Yisrael, Pay). The four letters stand for:
• a) 4 parts of man - Nefesh (soul), Goof (body), Sechel (intellect), HaKol (all the rest).
• b) 4 foundations of the world - fire, water, wind and earth
• c) 4 nations that put us in exile - Egypt, Persia, Greece and Rome The four letters on the dreydel have the Gematria of Mashiach (358). This is also the Gematria of Hashem is King etc. Chanukah is the season when the possibility exists for the light of Mashiach to burst forth. Then, man and the world will be restored to harmonious relationship and the last and most bitter exile of Rome will draw to a to a close, and we will see the fulfillment of the verse that Hashem will be King forever. (Bnei Yissaschar)
  • Chanukah and Purim have much in common. They are two holidays which will enjoy an exalted status when Mashiach comes. They were celebrations which were decreed by the Rabbis to commemorate events that took place in their time. Since the faith of the Jewish people were instrumental in bringing these holidays about, the Holidays of the Torah will pale in comparison to them, like a flashlight shining on a sunny day.

    Both days have their special instrument. Purim the grogger, Chanykah the dreydel. Their use is indicative of the nature of the holiday.

    Purim's grogger we hold from below to symbolize that the great Teshuva on the Jews provided an initiative from below which caused the divine initiative to bring about the miracle.

    On Chanukah we use a dreydel which we hold from above to symbolize that the principle initiative for the miracle came from above, and our actions brought it to fruition.

    
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