Dreidel-A Traditional Chanukah Spinning Top Game
Dreidel is a traditional Chanukah game that can be played by all members of the family, young to old. It is very simple to play and is a perfect fun way to celebrate the holiday, create family memories, and strengthen your children's Jewish identities.
How to Play the Game
The Hebrew word for dreidel is sevivon, which, as in Yiddish, means to turn around. Dreidels have four [Hebrew] letters on them, and they stand for the saying, "Nes Gadol Haya Sham,"meaning "a great miracle occurred there." In Israel, instead of the fourth letter "shin," there is a "peh," which means the saying is "Nes Gadol Haya Po"--"a great miracle occurred here."Playing with the dreidel is a traditional Hanukkah game played in Jewish homes all over the world, and rules may vary. Here's how to play the basic dreidel game:
1. Any number of people can take part in this great game.
2. Each player begins the game with an equal number of game pieces (about 10-15) such as pennies, nuts, chocolate chips, raisins, matchsticks, etc.
3. At the beginning of each round, every participant puts one game piece into the center "pot." In addition, every time the pot is empty or has only one game piece left, every player should put one in the pot.
4. Every time it's your turn, spin the dreidel once. Depending on the outcome, you give or get game pieces from the pot:
a) Nun means "nisht"or "nothing" [in Yiddish]. The player does nothing.
b) Gimmel means "gantz"or "everything" [in Yiddish]. The player gets everything in the pot.
c) Hey means "halb"or "half" [in Yiddish]. The player gets half of the pot. (If there is an odd number of pieces in the pot, the player takes half of the total plus one).
d) Shin (outside of Israel) means "shtel" or "put in" [in Yiddish]. Peh (in Israel)means "pay." The player adds a game piece to the pot.
5. If you find that you have no game pieces left, you are either "out" or may ask a fellow player for a "loan."
Here is a Paper Dreidel to Make at Home
The Dreidel Song
I have a little dreidel
I made it out of clay
And when it's dry and ready
Then dreidel I shall play!
chorus:
Oh - dreidel, dreidel, dreidel
I made it out of clay
And when it's dry and ready
Then dreidel I shall play!
It has a lovely body
With legs so short and thin
And when my dreidel's tired
It drops and then I win!
chorus
My dreidel's always playful
It loves to dance and spin
A happy game of dreidel
Come play now, let's begin!
chorus
The Dreidel Song
Spinning the Dreidel
Help Others During the Holidays
The Squidoo Charity Fund has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity. Thanks to the Squidoo community, we've built schools in Cambodia, given underprivileged classrooms computers and software, funded important reseach against Juvenile Diabetes
Another tradition of the holiday is playing dreidel, a gambling game played with a square top. Most people play for matchsticks, pennies, M&Ms or chocolate coins. The traditional explanation of this game is that during the time of Antiochus' oppression, those who wanted to study Torah (an illegal activity) would conceal their activity by playing gambling games with a top (a common and legal activity) whenever an official or inspector was within sight.
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The Complete Chanukah Songbook (Hebrew Edition)
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Would You Like to Play Dreidel?
Mayflowerblood wrote...
I enjoy the different artwork on the various Dreidels
Posted November 14, 2008
Intuitive wrote...
I don't know if I would want to play the game but collecting these beautiful Dreidels would be fun. 5*
Posted November 14, 2008
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