The tradition of spinning the dreidel has ancient roots in the Chanukah story. Interestingly, we find another ancient custom of spinning: on Purim we spin the gragger. The commentaries note that although these two customs are quite similar, they differ in that the dreidel is spun from the top and the gragger from below. This difference requires an explanation. 

The sefer Ta’amei Haminhagim suggests an answer based on another contrast between Chanukah and Purim. On Purim we find that there was a powerful hisorerusa d’letasa (inspiration from below) as we fasted and did a communal teshuva. On Chanukah, however, we experienced hisorerusa d’leila (inspiration from above) as we undeservedly were granted miracles from Hashem. Based on this distinction we can now understand why, on Purim, we commemorate our salvation by spinning from below in remembrance of the hisorerusa d’letasa, while on Chanukah, we celebrate the miracles that occurred through hisorerusa d’leila — the spinning of the One above. 

We can add another dimension to the meaning of the dreidel and its spin: A dreidel cannot independently stand on its own. Yet with a push and a spin from above it can move with exceptional speed. Similarly, on a national level, Klal Yisrael were incapable of standing on their own due to the terrible oppression of the Greeks. Yet with a push and a spin from the One above, we were able to succeed in an extraordinary victory. 

This understanding can lead us to a greater appreciation of Hashem’s involvement in His world. After all, the earth we inhabit is spherical and whirls around and around, resembling the dreidel. Additionally, scientists note that if the world stopped spinning at its normal rate of 1,000 miles per hour, our planet would be uninhabitable. So as we twirl our dreidel this Chanukah, we should recall the miraculous events of the Chanukah story as well as the constant miracle called nature. As we spin our dreidel, we remind ourselves of Who is spinning our earth up above and Who is really in control of our universe.