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From Bananas to Dreidels: How Duct Tape Transformed from Art Provocation to a Symbol of Faith
Edited by: TJVNews.com
In recent years, Maurizio Cattelan’s “Comedian”, a banana duct-taped to a wall, captured global attention, (especially among those attending the 2024 Art Basel Miami Beach event), selling for $6.2 million and sparking widespread debate about the nature and value of contemporary art. The work, intended as a “provocation,” satirized modern culture’s fixation on the absurd, challenging viewers to question what defines art and worth. While Cattelan’s piece lampooned societal trends, Rabbi Anchelle Perl, director of Chabad Mineola NY, has turned the humble duct tape into a symbol of resilience, hope, and spiritual strength through a profoundly different lens.
The Duct Tape Dreidel: A Symbol of Faith and Resilience
This year, Rabbi Perl unveiled his Duct Tape to Wall Dreidel, a striking and meaningful creation that reimagines duct tape as a metaphor for faith and community. Rooted in the spirit of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, Rabbi Perl’s dreidel carries a timeless message of Jewish resilience and the enduring power of spirituality.
“Where others might see duct tape as a tool of repair, I see it as a tool of strength,” Rabbi Perl explained. Unlike the whimsical absurdity of Cattelan’s banana, the dreidel symbolizes the unbreakable connection between the Jewish people, their history, and their faith.
The dreidel, a traditional spinning top used during Chanukah, takes on new significance in Rabbi Perl’s vision. “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,” he said, referencing the divine presence that guides life’s uncertainties.
Chanukah’s Message of Miracles and Renewal
Chanukah commemorates the Jewish people’s miraculous survival and renewal, celebrating the rededication of the Holy Temple and the enduring light of the menorah. Rabbi Perl’s duct-taped dreidel embodies these themes, reminding observers that even life’s simplest symbols can hold profound truths when imbued with faith.
“Each spin of the dreidel, whether landing on a letter for ‘great miracle’ or ‘little gain,’ teaches us to find blessings in every outcome,” Rabbi Perl explained. For him, the duct tape represents more than a material—it symbolizes the strength and unity of faith and community, binding individuals together in times of joy and challenge.
This message resonates deeply this year as communities prepare to celebrate Chanukah while grappling with recent sorrows and uncertainties. “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,” Rabbi Perl said.
A Contrast in Perspectives: From Critique to Gratitude
While Cattelan’s banana critiqued the fleeting and often arbitrary value assigned to art, Rabbi Perl’s duct-tape dreidel delivers an uplifting and enduring message. It emphasizes joy, gratitude, and resilience, reminding people to embrace life’s light even amid darkness.
“This isn’t just about art—it’s about life,” Rabbi Perl said. “It’s a reminder to celebrate our faith, to find strength in community, and to see resilience in every spin of life’s wheel.” The dreidel, as Rabbi Perl envisions it, transforms duct tape from a mundane object into a vessel for spiritual reflection.
A Timeless Message for a Modern World
In a world often consumed by debates about the role and value of art, Rabbi Perl’s duct-tape dreidel offers a powerful reminder: life’s simplest symbols, when inspired by faith and community, carry the deepest meaning. As the dreidel spins, so too do the lessons of resilience, gratitude, and faith endure—timeless truths that guide humanity through its most uncertain moments.
Through his creation, Rabbi Perl encourages us to move beyond the fleeting provocations of modern culture and to find strength and inspiration in life’s enduring symbols. His duct-tape dreidel stands as a testament to the miracles of faith and the boundless light that continues to guide the Jewish people—and the world—through every spin of life’s wheel.
