SUMMARY: Disappearing dreidels, reappearing dreidels, strange blue powder with unidentified genetic material, plus 2 good looking Rabbis. Who's stealing the dreidels? The trap is sprung! What did they catch?.

8 short chapters so you can enjoy all of Chanukah with the Torchwood Team.

If you don't know what Smurgs are, you can see a picture at http:/ artwork_avivb. livejournal. com/5406, html (remove spaces)

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"Smurfs! They're Smurfs." Gwen yelled.

The three Smurfs were clearly surrounded. They huddled together and held up their hands in surrender.

"Actually they are known as Issacharians," Jack stated. "They are a quiet peaceful people, renowned for their scholarship and interest in learning. Some of them travel the galaxy in search of new knowledge and ideas which they then bring back to their home planet. I've never heard of one stealing anything or harming anyone."

Rabbi Robbi was transfixed. "Oh my. I wonder if their name is in reference to one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel? Issachar was a tribe made up largely of religious scholars."

Jack pulled out some chairs and suggested that they all sit. He motioned to the Smurf/Issacharians to sit as well. He tried speaking Standard to them, but they didn't seem to understand. "I wonder if they are from an earlier time period than me before Standard has evolved as the language of choice."

The little blue creatures whispered among themselves and the Rabbi was able to catch a few words. "I don't believe it. They are speaking Hebrew, sort of. Its slangy, but I can pick up some of what they are saying. They're terrified, actually."

She pointed to the dreidels and said the word 'dreidel'. The Smurfs shook their heads 'no.' The oldest of the Smurfs pointed to the dreidel and said 'seviron.' The Rabbi gasped. "The Hebrew word for dreidel is 'sevivon.' That can't be a coincidence."

She spoke slowly and patiently to the Smurfs and they began to speak back. As she began to piece the story together she asked more questions and got more information. The Team really wanted to know what was going on. Jack almost interrupted a few times, but Rabbi Robbi held up her hand signaling him to wait.

Finally she spoke to the group. "As best as I can understand, they came here by accident. They say they are not from this time, but are from the year 3235 by our reckoning. And they do call themselves Issacharians. They say they weren't always called this but adopted the name centuries ago. Apparently, they were visited by a human who was also traveling the galaxy in search of knowledge. They were so impressed with his knowledge that they wanted to adopt his language and customs. He was so impressed with their desire to learn that he gave them the name Issacharians in honor of some of his kinsman, and I quote, who were lost long ago."

Ianto was fascinated by them. "Can you ask them what the man looked like and if they knew his name?"

She spoke some more to the Smurfs and then turned to Ianto. "This is getting stranger by the minute. They say his original name was lost, but he is known to them as Rebbe Baruch (Blessed Rabbi). And they said he wore a long black coat and a black hat and had ringlets. Apparently they were visited by a Hassidic Rabbi!"

"But are they Jewish?" Tosh asked.

The Rabbi laughed. "We can't even agree today who is Jewish and who is not, so I won't touch that one." She added, "While I'd love to delve into this some more, I think I'd better see if I can find out what they want with the dreidels."

She conversed some more, struggling a bit to understand. "Well, here's the story. When they crash landed, they burnt out the power core of their spaceship. The cores are in the shape of the dreidel because they were unable to travel in space until Rebbe Baruch visited them. He gave them the technology to reach the stars and to them it was a miracle. So when they designed their first space ship long after the Rebbe had left, someone decided that it would nice to make the power container in the shape of a dreidel so that they would remember the story that he told them about the miracle of Chanukah and the Everlasting Power (as they call it)."

Jack began to understand. "So they've been stealing the dreidels to see if any of them can be used as a suitable power core. And apparently, none has fit the bill."

"Oh, its just like Cinderella, and the glass slipper," Gwen gushed.

Owen rolled his eyes.

Jack smiled. "Actually, that's a very good analogy. Power cores have to fit exactly into their chambers. Otherwise the power won't transfer and the ship either won't fly or could explode once its in flight. Rabbi, can you ask them if we can see their ship? Tell them that we want to help and we are not going to hurt them or steal their ship."

Rabbi Robbi translated Jack's request. The Smurfs whispered amongst themselves nervously.

"Tell them I'm from the Boeshane Peninsula," Jack added.

When she said those words the Smurfs looked at Jack in amazement and then smiled.

They began to talk rapidly and The Rabbi had to slow them down several times as she took notes. "They say their ship is right outside of town and they'd be honored to show you their ship. They said they feel much better knowing that they are not the only ones lost from their proper time."