Playing Dreidel with Judah Maccabee

Playing Dreidel with Judah Maccabee, is an original Hannukah play in which a contemporary boy meets the historical Judah Maccabee. The play features shadow puppets and live cello music among its storytelling techniques. The play is told in eight scenes, corresponding to the eight days of Hannukah. Judah and the boy find each other in an abandoned room that exists in both the ancient temple in Jerusalem and the boy’s modern day temple, and the boy explains to Judah the odd modern practices that commemorate the ancient battles. At first Judah is horrified, but then he comes to learn why the boy needs those traditions. The play examines the concepts of ancient and modern perspectives on war and religion, but at the same time it is a celebration of perseverance during difficult times. It is filled with music and humor that transcends difficult circumstances.