Dreidels

A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top that is traditionally played with during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Each side of the dreidel has a Hebrew letter. These letters are Nun, Gimel, Hey, and Shin, which together form the acronym "Nes Gadol Hayah Sham," meaning "A great miracle happened there." In Israel, the letter Peh is often used instead of Shin, changing the phrase to "Nes Gadol Hayah Po," meaning "A great miracle happened here."

The game of dreidel is simple and can be played by people of all ages. Typically, players will place a wager, often gelt (chocolate coins), into a pot. Each player takes a turn spinning the dreidel. The letter that lands facing up determines the outcome of the turn. If Nun faces up, the player does nothing. If Gimel faces up, the player takes the entire pot. If Hey faces up, the player takes half of the pot. If Shin faces up, the player adds another wager to the pot. The game continues until one player has all the wagers.

The dreidel's origins are debated, with some believing it evolved from a German or English teetotum, a type of top used for games of chance. The game became associated with Hanukkah during the time when religious Jews were forbidden from practicing their traditions, including studying the Torah. To circumvent these prohibitions, they would play with dreidels in public, pretending to be engaged in a simple game while secretly studying the Torah when the coast was clear. The dreidel game is now a cherished custom and a symbol of Hanukkah, representing both the miracle of the oil and the defiance of oppression.