Dreidel Talks
When a square dreidel is spun, it appears as a circle. A square represents linear, defined, while a circle, which has no beginning or end, no corners or defined points, represents breaking of our boundaries and limitations.
The square also represents the ‘prose’ or defined areas of our life and the circle represents the ‘poetry’ or music, the non-linear and miraculous aspect of life.
Law and order are ‘square’ while music and poetry are ‘circular’. The Torah embraces this paradox: it is a book of law and yet it is also called a shirah- a song.
We can view the Written Torah as a ‘square’ of Divine law and order and the Oral Torah which is revealed through human collaboration, as a ‘circle’ of poetry, inspiration and devotion.
On all the holy days of Chanukah, Purim and Simchat Torah, we turn the squares of our lives into circles. On Chanukah we spin the dreidel, on Purim we spin the gragger and on Simchat Torah we take out the Torah and dance in circles around the bimah.
Sometimes we need the boundaries of law and order and other times we need to twirl with poetry and passion of being alive. When we get married, for example, the poetry of life takes more prominence.
Although we enter the square wedding canopy and thereby draw boundaries of an orderly structure around our relationship, we also focus on creating circles. The encircling walk of the bride around the groom and the circular wedding ring given by the groom, symbolizing endless passion and poetry of life.