Dreidel is a traditional Jewish game played at Hanukkah, using a small wooden (or plastic) "top" called a Dreidel which has four sides. Tradition teaches that the Dreidel was invented as a game played with money used to fool Antiochus Epiphanes' Greek soldiers at the time of the first Hanukkah, when Jewish men and boys would gather on the hills to study Torah; when the Greek soldiers came upon them the men and boys were playing a harmless game with wooden tops and coins and they never suspected that "illegal" activities such as studying Torah where taking place!

Each side of the Driedel has a hebrew letter on it: Nun, Gimel, Hay and Shin or Pey. In the diaspora (a term that refers to all countries where Jews live outside of Israel) the Dreidel has a Nun, Gimel, Hay and Shin on it. This is an acronym, "Nes Gadol Ha'ya Sham" which, translated into English, means "A Great Miracle Happened There ". In Israel Dreidel's have a Nun, Gimel, Hay and Pey on them, the acronym, "Nes Gadol Ha'ya Sham" being translated "A Great Miracle Happened Here".


How To Play Dreidel

Any number of players can play Dreidel! You just need at least one Dreidel, a small pot or tub and enough gelt for each player to have 15 pieces. Gelt can be anything you like, from raisins (that's not so hygenic!) to Chocolate coins (definitely recommended!).

You start by giving each player 15 pieces of gelt. Put the pot/tub in the centre of your playing area and have each player put one piece of gelt into it. Play begins when the first player spins his/her Dreidel!


Nun If the Dreidel lands on a Nun, you do nothing and play passes to the left to the next player.


Gimel If the Dreidel lands on a Gimel, you take all the gelt in the pot. Everyone, including yourself, must then put one piece of gelt into the pot and play proceeds to the left to the next player.


Hay If the Dreidel lands on a Hay, you take half the gelt in the pot; an uneven number is always split in favour of the pot, ie, out of three coins, you keep one and the pot keeps two. Play then proceeds to the left to the next player.


Shin If the Dreidel lands on a Shin, you must put one piece of gelt into the pot. Play then proceeds to the left to the next player.

Play continues until one of the players looses all his pieces of gelt - he/she drops out of the game and play continues until only one player is left with gelt: he/she is the winner!

Copyright N. Allen - MET


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