The explanation of the rules takes a bit of time, which conveniently turns out to be about as much time as it takes to count out ten pebbles per person and arrange everyone in a circle around a table.

"So there's a story about why we play this game on Chanukah," she says, "and I'll tell it short so we can get started. Remember the part I told you before, how the Seleucid empire that ruled Judea had turned oppressive, and outlawed our religion?" Some nods from the gathered people; some head-shaking, not in disagreement but in renewed dismay at the idea. "So one of the things they outlawed was the study of our holy books and our laws. Which is super important to us, and we didn't want to give it up. Now, there's some things you can do secretly, but teaching a class without anyone noticing is kind of hard. So what do you think they did?"

She sweeps a look around her audience, pausing just a little longer on the youngest people present -- and on the newest arrival.