articlesforchristians

The History of Dreidel

A dreidel is a four-sided top usually made of wood or plastic, but it can also be clay, brass, or even glass. Over two thousand years ago, When the Syrian Greeks ruled over the Holy Land, they outlawed many Jewish practices, such as circumcision, Shabbat observance and Torah learning. So, when soldiers passed by their homes, Jewish children would spin dreidels to hide that they were studying in secret. In Hebrew, a dreidel is called a sevivon (spinning top). Each side is engraved with one of four Hebrew letters: Nun, Gimmel, Hey, and Shin, which stands for the phrase: Nes Gadol Hayah Sham, “A Great Miracle Happened There.” In Israel, Po, which means “here,” is substituted for Sham.

How to Play

1. Sit on the floor or at table in a circle. Give each player an equal number of nuts, raisins, pennies, or chocolate candy coins wrapped in gold foil (gelt).
2. Each player places one item from their pile into the center-“the pot.”
3. Before each turn, place a piece into the “pot” and then spin the dreidel. When it stops, look at it.
   • If the dreidel lands on Nun, you get nothing.
   • If it lands on Gimmel, you get everything.
   • If it lands on Hey, you get half the pot.
   • If it lands on Shin, you have to put another item in the center.
4. The game is over when one player has everything.