Buzz
Dreidel, a time-honored game of chance, remains one of the most recognizable symbols of Hanukkah. The dreidel, characterized by its four sides, each bearing a distinct Hebrew letter, holds historical significance dating back to the era of King Antiochus IV in 175 BCE when Jewish worship was forbidden. To disguise their Torah study sessions, Jews engaged in dreidel games, often fooling soldiers into believing it was mere gambling. Today, it's commonly enjoyed for the chance to win chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil known as gelt. With a dreidel and some tokens, you can partake in this festive tradition. Let's dive into how!
Steps
Acquire a dreidel. The type of dreidel available varies by region. Outside of Israel, dreidels feature the letters Nun, Gimmel, Hay, and Shin, symbolizing 'A Great Miracle Happened There,' in reference to the oil miracle. In Israel, where the miracle occurred, dreidels display Nun, Gimmel, Hay, and Pey, representing 'A Great Miracle Happened Here.'
Assemble companions. While the game can be played with just two players, the more, the merrier!
- Distribute tokens equally among players. Tokens can range from pennies, nuts, and raisins to matchsticks. Many opt for gelt.
Place your bet.
Prior to spinning the dreidel, players contribute one token to the center of the circle, forming 'the pot.'
- Each time the pot is emptied or contains only one token, every player must add a token to the pot.
Take turns spinning the dreidel. On your turn, give the dreidel a spin. The outcome of the spin determines whether you win, lose, or draw. Based on the letter facing up after the spin, follow these instructions:
- Shin ('shtel' or 'put in' in Yiddish) - Add one more token to the pot.
- Nun ('nisht'or 'nothing' in Yiddish) - Do nothing.
- Gimmel ('gantz'or 'everything' in Yiddish) - Claim all tokens from the pot.
- Hay ('halb'or 'half' in Yiddish) - Take half of the tokens from the pot, rounding up if the number is odd.
- If you run out of tokens, you're either 'out' or can borrow from another player.
Pass the dreidel to the next player.
Continue playing until a player collects all the tokens to win.
Helpful Hints
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If you don't have a dreidel, you can download a pattern and craft one yourself! Many websites offer free printable patterns for making your own dreidel.
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In Israel, the letter shin is often replaced with peh to form the phrase 'a great miracle happened here.'
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In Yiddish, the dreidel is known as 'fargle' and 'varfl.' In Israel, it's called 'sevivon,' derived from the Hebrew word meaning 'turn around or spin.'
Materials Needed
- Dreidel
- A handful of tokens: buttons, coins, or small candies
- You can also use gelt (chocolate coins)
