Maurizio Cattelan’s $6.2 million duct-taped banana, titled “Comedian,” became a global sensation. Intended as a provocation, it questioned the value we assign to art, poking fun at …
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Maurizio Cattelan’s $6.2 million duct-taped banana, titled “Comedian,” became a global sensation. Intended as a provocation, it questioned the value we assign to art, poking fun at modern culture’s obsession with the absurd.
While it sparked debates about meaning and worth, duct tape has been taken in a very different direction—with joy, hope and faith as the guiding lights.
This year, the “Duct Tape to Wall Dreidel” has been unveiled, a powerful symbol of Jewish resilience and the enduring spirit of Chanukah.
Where others might see duct tape as a tool of repair, I see it as a tool of strength. The dreidel isn’t just a children’s game—it’s a timeless message. As the dreidel spins with the help of our hand, so, too, do our lives turn and flourish with the guiding hand of Hashem.
Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, celebrates the miracles of survival and renewal. The “Duct Tape to Wall Dreidel,” firmly affixed to the wall, reminds us of the Jewish people’s unbreakable connection to their faith and history. Each spin of the dreidel, whether landing on a letter for “great miracle” or “little gain,” is a lesson in life’s blessings. It is a vivid reminder that no matter how uncertain life feels, Hashem’s presence guides our every turn.
This message is especially poignant this year as we all prepare for the Chanukah, a festival dedicated to transforming recent sorrows into joy and celebrating the miracles that continue to light our way.
The duct tape holding this dreidel is more than just adhesive—it’s symbolic of how faith and community bind us together, giving us strength even in the most challenging times.
Unlike Cattelan’s banana, which critiques the fleeting nature of value, the duct-tape dreidel inspires joy and gratitude.
This isn’t just about art—it’s about life. It’s a reminder to embrace the light, to celebrate our faith, and to find resilience in every spin of life’s wheel.
As the world debates art’s role, the dreidel offers a timeless message: life’s simplest symbols—when inspired by faith—carry the most profound truths.
Rabbi Anchelle Perl
Director, Chabad of Mineola
Mineola, NY
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