Subway's Human Dreidel Unmasked: I Want To Make Commuters Laugh

EAST VILLAGE, NY — The man donning a bright-blue dreidel costume whirling through the city's streets and subways wants to "bring people together" for the holidays, the human dreidel told Patch.

Brooklynite Jason Izen, 41, has been spinning throughout Manhattan and the subway this week as a bright-blue dreidel, raising even the most hardened New Yorkers eyebrows as he joyously twirls throughout the city.

The performance artist said he hopes his spins inspire people to ask him about his costume for a humorous teaching moment about dreidels and their use during Hanukkah, which runs from Dec. 2-10.

"I love to make the world laugh and I want to bring all people together," said Izen. "I like that this really connects with people."

While riding the subway Izen discussed dreidels with one man who wasn't familiar with the traditionally wooden spinning top often played with during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

"He was getting kind of close to me and I was getting a little nervous," said Izen. "He didn't know what a dreidel was and we ended up talking about dreidels and Hanukkah."

Izen, who has been dancing on the subway in non-dreidel outfits for some three years, enjoys cutting loose on the trains and throughout the city to brighten up New Yorkers' days.

"I do it all the time. I practice dancing on the train," he said. "I love to hear a lot of laughter. That really gets me going and amps me up."

He began busting a move on the subways as a stress release and continues to do it full-time. He has amassed thousands of viewers with viral videos, including his last featuring him dancing in women's lingerie, he said.

New Yorkers who've caught a glimpse of Izen zipping around the city as a spinning top have cheered him on and encouraged him with lyrics from "I have a little dreidel."

"It was all positive," he said. "It was such a pure thing."

Izen plans to spin around the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center later this week.

Photo courtesy of ryanbe_newyork and weareallonebeing.