A Dreidel in Time Read online

  Simon continued. “My father was teaching me about the Torah.” Simon paused, his voice catching in his throat. “The soldiers found out. They took him and our mother away this past summer, two days before my thirteenth birthday.”

  “I was in the field with Simon. We were gathering flowers to surprise our mother for the Sabbath. If we had been home, we would have been taken as well.”

  Simon put his arm around his sister and they walked together in silence.

  Benjamin pulled his sister to the side. “What are we going to do?”

  “Shh.” Devorah took her brother’s hand. “We can’t do anything right now.”

  “But how will we get back home?” Benjamin whispered.

  “I don’t know, but that dreidel somehow brought us here. If we can find it, maybe it will take us home.”

  Chapter 5

  Camp

  The group stopped in a clearing somewhere in the dry, dusty hills above Modi’in. A large tent had been set up. Small campsites were spread out around it.

  “Over here!” Simon called out. “This is a good spot for us.”

  Shoshana joined her brother. They removed the thorny sagebrush and stones from a small area.

  Devorah pulled her brother aside. “Let’s clear our own spot near theirs,” she whispered, pushing a large tumbleweed out of the area. “Hey, come and help me.”

  But Benjamin plopped down where he was. “I’m tired. We’ve walked all day.”

  “You can rest when we’re done. The sun is setting and it’ll be dark soon.” She tugged on her brother’s arm. “Unless you’re so tired, the rocks and thorns won’t bother you tonight.”

  Benjamin frowned as he got up. He kicked away the small rocks. “Ow!” he cried, kicking a rock that was stuck in the hard ground. “This is crazy!”

  Shoshana came over to him. “My brother and I have finished clearing our area. I can help you for a little while.”

  “Thanks,” said Benjamin. He looked around. “I’m hungry and I’m tired. I want to go home!” he blinked, trying not to cry.

  “I know you’re afraid. I am too. Maybe we can help each other until . . . until our parents all return.” Shoshana moved away some of the sagebrush.

  Benjamin got up and they worked together until the area was smooth. Devorah smiled as she watched them. She was glad they had found Shoshana and Simon.

  The sun set, and the campsite was covered in darkness. The only light came from the large fire blazing in the center of the camp.

  The Maccabees and their families straggled over to the fire.

  “You’d better stay with us,” Simon told them. “People are worried about the soldiers following us . . . and about spies. Some have already noticed you. They are wondering why you are here with us . . . as am I.”

  Shoshana stood. “Don’t worry. We’ll bring you some food and something to drink. But my brother’s right. You should stay here. You’ll be safer for now.”

  Devorah and Benjamin sat on the bits of grass they had found to soften the ground. Their new friends returned. Shoshana handed them some dried cheese and fruit, two pieces of flat bread, and a small flask of water. It wasn’t much, but it stopped the rumbling in their stomachs. Simon tossed them each a blanket.

  Benjamin and Devorah spread out the blankets. “These are really scratchy,” whispered Benjamin. “And the ground is too hard. I’ll never get to sleep.”

  “Just be thankful Simon found these blankets for us, or you’d be cold as well,” said Devorah.

  Benjamin rolled toward his sister. “Devorah, what’s going on?”

  “Bubbe’s dreidel must have brought us back to the time when Hanukkah first started. These are the real people from Modi’in. Those men we saw must be Mattisyahu, his son Judah, and the Jewish Maccabee soldiers!”

  “But everything is terrible here.” Benjamin’s voice shook. “The people had to leave their homes to live . . . here! And Simon and Shoshana—their parents are gone. Maybe even dead. This isn’t anything like the story they told us in Sunday school!”

  “Oh, no!” Devorah sat up. “The story—remember what happens? Antiochus sends his soldiers after the Maccabees. They’ll have to fight his soldiers here in the hills. The Maccabees have to prepare for the battle.”

  “You’re right. We’ve got to warn Simon!”

  Devorah nodded. “I saw him head toward the campfire a few minutes ago.”

  The children crept toward the blazing campfire. They had not gone far when two men grabbed them.

  “Who are you?” A large man shook Benjamin. “Tell me, boy!”

  “This one,” said his partner, shaking his head, “is a girl. We should take them to Mattisyahu. He will know how to deal with spies!”

  Chapter 6

  The Warning

  The men dragged the frightened children to the campfire. They were shoved in front of the old man.

  “Jonathan and I found these two spies, Father,” said Benjamin’s captor.

  Devorah looked up at Mattisyahu, tears in her eyes. “We were trying to find Simon to warn him, to warn all of you,” she whispered.

  Mattisyahu’s glare softened as he looked at her. “To warn us of what, child?”

  Benjamin rubbed his bruised arms. “To warn you that Antiochus plans to send his soldiers to kill you!”

  Mattisyahu studied Benjamin for a long moment. Then he motioned to the man holding Benjamin. “You may release him, Judah.”

  Judah shoved Benjamin forward.

  “Come here, boy.” Mattisyahu smiled. “Tell me who you are and why you have journeyed here with us.”

  “I’m Benjamin, and this is my sister, Devorah. We come from . . . from Jerusalem.” He looked over at his sister.

  Devorah continued. “Antiochus’ soldiers took our parents away. We were afraid they would come back for us.”

  “We saw you heading away from Modi’in,” added her brother, “and decided we’d better join you because . . .”

  “Because we knew we’d be safer hiding with you. If the soldiers were after you, they’d be after us, too,” finished Devorah. “And they are after you, or they will be soon. You have to get ready to fight them!”

  Mattisyahu took Devorah’s hands into his own strong grasp. “Child,” he said. “To Antiochus we are like a small band of insects. He will not bother with us. Stay here; you will be safe.”

  “You don’t know Antiochus,” snapped Benjamin. “He will come after you!”

  “Don’t be fooled, Father.” Judah placed his hand on his sword. “These children are sure the soldiers will fight us because they are spies. How else would they know these plans?”

  “If we’re spies,” argued Benjamin, “then why are we warning you?”

  “You say we’ll be safe here, but when the soldiers come, no one will be safe!” Devorah looked into the old man’s face.

  “Please, send someone to check.” Benjamin softened his voice. “I’m so scared.”

  “You would like us to do that, wouldn’t you?” Judah turned to face Mattisyahu. “We’d be walking into a trap!”

  Mattisyahu sighed. “Take Jonathan and return to Modi’in. Search the area, determine the soldiers’ plans, then report back to me.”

  “But, Father,” Judah protested, grabbing Benjamin and yanking him to his feet. “You can’t let these two spies roam freely. They’re sure to escape and travel back to Modi’in to warn the soldiers.”

  Mattisyahu’s brow wrinkled. “I do not think they are much of a threat. But, there is a small cave behind the women’s tent. Put them there and post a guard. We can sort out their story when you return from Modi’in.” He waved Judah and Jonathan away. The two men stomped off and shoved Benjamin and Devorah into the cave.

  “Ow!” grumbled Benjamin, bumping his head as Judah tossed him into the cave. “This stupid thing is so small, we can’t even both lie down to sleep at the same time.”

  “Well, at least we warned them. Everything will be okay once Judah returns from Modi’in. He’ll tell Mattisyahu about the soldiers and then they’ll have to believe us.”

  Benjamin scrunched to the back of the tiny cave. “Ouch!” he cried again, sitting on something hard. He reached around.

  “Devorah!” he shouted. “I’ve found Bubbe’s dreidel! Now we can go home!” The children huddled together, glad to be going home. Glad to be free of this nightmare.

  Benjamin held onto Devorah while she gave the dreidel a spin. The top picked up speed, faster and faster, until the whole cave swirled.

  Then it stopped, just like that!

  The Hebrew letter Nun glowed up at them.

  Devorah and Benjamin stared at the dreidel. Nun. In the dreidel game it means nothing happens; you neither gain nor lose.

  “Devorah!” shouted Benjamin, tears filling his eyes as he glanced up. “It didn’t work! Nothing’s changed!”

  Devorah stared out. They were still in the campsite on the dust-covered hillside. Everything was the same as before. Or was it?

  Chapter 7

  Nun

  “Devorah, we’re not home! What happened? Why are we still here in this cave?” Benjamin searched for the dreidel, but it was gone.

  The children crawled out and looked around. Something had changed. The camp was now well-organized, as if it had been there for a long time.

  Before they could figure it out, two teens burst into view.

  Devorah stared at them. They looked familiar. Suddenly Benjamin shouted, “Simon! Shoshana!”

  “Devorah, Benjamin, you’ve returned!’ cried Shoshana.

  “Returned?” said Devorah. “We never left. But, you both look . . . older.”

  Simon spoke. “I’m fifteen now, and Shoshana is twelve. But you haven’t aged at all. What magic do you possess that keeps you from aging?”

  Devorah explained about the dreidel. “It’s a top that spins around. There are four Hebrew letters on it. A Shin, a Nun, a Hey, and a Gimmel. They stand for ‘a great miracle happened there.’ You know—it’s part of the holiday . . . of Hanukkah.”

  Simon’s voice rose. “Your story is nonsense. There’s no holiday called Hanukkah.”

  Devorah pulled her brother aside. “The Hanukkah story is happening right now. It hasn’t become a holiday yet.”

  “Oh, yeah. You’re right.” Benjamin bit his lip. “How do we convince them our story is true?”

  Simon looked around. “And where is this magic spinning toy of yours? Show me how it works,” he demanded.

  “It . . . it disappears after we spin it,” Benjamin said.

  Simon’s eyes narrowed.

  Shoshana walked over to Benjamin. “So if you find it, will it take you back to another time?”

  “We don’t really know,” Devorah answered. “I guess the dreidel moves us through time somehow. It took us to Modi’in when you all were leaving, and it brought us here now. It’s all very confusing. It’s two years later for you, but only a few seconds later for us. I can’t explain it.”

  A group of Maccabees passed them. Benjamin turned to Simon. “What’s happening?” he asked. “Did the soldiers come like we said?”

  “Your information was correct,” Shoshana said. “Judah and Jonathan discovered the soldiers of Antiochus were planning to attack us. But Judah was convinced you were spies when he returned and found you both gone.”

  “I agree with Judah.” Simon crossed his arms over his chest. “You haven’t convinced me with your story of magic and this . . . dreidel . . .”

  “But, Simon, they did save us from being captured by the soldiers . . . or worse.”

  Simon sighed. “My sister is right. Whatever you are, your warning gave us enough time to organize our army.”

  “So Mattisyahu and his men are winning?” asked Benjamin.

  “Not Mattisyahu. He died bravely in battle. His son Judah, leads us now.” Simon stood up, pushing out his chest. “I’m a soldier now. And Shoshana helps care for the injured.”

  “But you’re not a grown-up! Why are you fighting?” Devorah asked.

  “Antiochus has sent too many soldiers. Everyone who is thirteen and older has to fight. Even younger children help by serving food or cleaning up,” said Shoshana.

  “Our battle is critical,” said Simon. “If we don’t win this war, everyone will be forced to worship as the ruling king demands. We battle for the freedom to follow our traditions. We fight for the Jewish people, and for all other people as well.”

  Simon picked up his sword. “I must go. My help is needed on the field.”

  “The Maccabees are winning, aren’t they?” asked Devorah.

  Simon stopped. “Unfortunately, we’re not doing well. There are too many enemy soldiers!”

  “Wait!” Benjamin jumped up. “I know what you can do!”

  Chapter 8

  George Washington

  Everyone stared at Benjamin. “We’ve been studying about the American Revolution in school. George Washington’s army was badly outnumbered, but he created many successful battle plans and he won the war.”

  “American Revolution? George Washington? More of your stories!! Who was this man you speak of?” asked Simon. “Was he a king?”

  “No, he was . . . he was a great warrior fighting for freedom, just like the Maccabees,” Devorah said.

  “How do you know this?” asked Simon. “Did your parents fight in this great battle or is this more of your magic?”

  Benjamin laughed. “Our parents? No, that war happened a long time ago . . . I mean . . .” He stopped and looked at his sister.

  Devorah tried to explain. “The American Revolution happened centuries before we were born. We learned about it in school . . . the teachers tell us about what happened in history.”

  “I get it,” said Shoshana. “Our rabbi and our parents pass along the traditions and laws from the Torah. Where you come from, your rabbis do the same thing, right?”

  Devorah nodded.

  “Tell me more about these battle plans!” insisted Simon.

  “I’ll tell you what I remember,” said Benjamin. “General Washington convinced the British army, his enemy, that the American soldiers were unorganized and exhausted. Then he tricked the British by having the American soldiers leave the camp and hide. Washington left fire rings burning, as if his troops were still there. He even put up stuffed clothes to look like people.”

  Simon interrupted and asked, “What purpose was there in abandoning the camp?”

  Benjamin continued. “The enemy, thinking it would be an easy victory, sent only a few of their troops to fight Washington’s men. The others stayed in their camp, resting. Washington swooped down with his army on the small group of soldiers, surprising them because they thought the camp was empty, and easily defeated them. Then Washington attacked the enemy command center where the remaining soldiers were resting.”

  Simon shook his head. “This leader, Washington, took a big chance. The soldiers could easily have defeated his small army. I don’t think Judah would take such a risk.”

  “It doesn’t matter what we think,” said Shoshana. She turned to Benjamin. “You must tell Judah what you know. Let him decide if this plan can work for the Maccabees.”

  “He won’t be pleased to see you two again. But I’ll take you to him.” Simon motioned them to follow him.

  The four children walked to the center of the camp. They found Judah pacing by the main campfire, hands clenched behind his back. He was arguing with another soldier. Devorah recognized the second man. It was Judah’s brother, Jonathan. What would these men think when they saw her and Benjamin again?

  Judah drew his sword. “What magic has allowed you to keep your youth over these last two years? If you are not spies, then you are surely demons or sorcerers.”

  “Judah,” said Shoshana, in defense of her friends. “It doesn’t matter how old they are. What’s important is that we’re struggling against a powerful enemy, and Benjamin has an idea that could help us win this war.”

  “I will not be guided by the words of a child,” said Judah. “Especially a bewitched one!”

  Jonathan interrupted. “Maybe we should listen to what he says, and then decide.”

  Judah pursed his lips and nodded. “It is only because of my concern for the fate of my people that I agree to hear this plan.”

  Benjamin described General Washington’s strategy.

  Judah smiled and nodded. “It might work,” he whispered under his breath. He scowled at Benjamin. “Since we have no other option, we will try this plan of your Commander Washington. But for your sake, it had better prove successful!”

  Benjamin turned to his sister as they all headed toward the main tent. “I just remembered something,” he said with a grin.

  “What?” asked Devorah.

  “George Washington got the idea for his plans . . . from reading about the Maccabees!”

  Chapter 9

  Back to Modi’in

  Benjamin went with Jonathan and Simon to the main tent. The people had already assembled for the evening meal. As Simon explained the plan, Benjamin stuffed an old tunic with leaves and sat it on the ground. Placing the shirtsleeves over the open neck, the decoy appeared to be a man bending over. An excited murmur swept through the camp. This simple deception might give them the edge they needed to turn the war in their favor.

  After a quick meal, the preparations began. The women and children gathered spare clothing and stuffed them with leaves while the Maccabees sharpened their swords. They packed dried meat, water pouches, and smaller weapons, supplies they would need for the upcoming battle. They worked through the night, resting only when the sun rose.

  Just before dawn, Benjamin followed Simon and Jonathan as the men left camp and slipped back into Modi’in.

  “We’ll find our friends Luke and Samuel,” Simon whispered to Jonathan. “They will help us with this part of the plan.”

  The friends agreed to help. Simon and Jonathan kept out of sight, as did Benjamin. They listened as Luke and Samuel strolled through the streets of Modi’in, stopping each time they passed a soldier.