The dreidel is an integral part of celebration of the holiday of Hanukkah, and it holds a special place in Jewish culture. It offers kids a chance to practice counting and luck, while also carrying with it a heritage of persecution and faith. Knowing the origin and purpose of dreidels is important for understanding the holiday, and a basic knowledge of its importance can be found here.
Origin of Dreidels
The dreidel is an ancient four-sided spinning top which is used to play a two to four player game of chance called sivivon. Its history began with the Macabees and the miracle of the menorah which was lit for eight nights with only one day’s worth of oil. The dreidel was then used as a form of entertainment to conceal the fact that Greek-Syrians tried to suppress the religious practice of Jews. When the Greek-Syrians came looking for those studying the Torah, Jews would take out the dreidel and pretend to be engaged in a game.
How to Play Dreidel
Dreidel is a gambling game that is played with pennies or other small objects as tokens. Each player places at least one penny in the pot. Every player spins the dreidel, and the letter that lands on top indicates the player’s outcome. If a player spins a “nun,” then he or she does not win or lose anything. If a player lands on a “heh,” then the player wins half of the pot. If a player spins a “gimmel,” then the player wins the entire pot. If a player spins a “shin,” then the player must put more pennies into the pot.
Symbolism of Dreidel
The four letters that adorn the sides of the dreidel (Nun, Gimmel, Heh, and Shin) are the initials for the sentence “nes gadol haya sham” which means “a great miracle happened there”. This sentence reflects the miracle of the menorah and is a reminder for Jewish people to stay strong in their faith. For children, the dreidel symbolizes the holiday of Hanukkah and all the fun that comes with it.
Dreidels have been with the Jewish people for centuries, and it continues to be an important part of Hanukkah celebrations. They serve both a practical purpose of entertainment and a symbolic reminder of the miracle of the menorah and the power of faith and resilience in the face of persecution. Dreidels offer children a fun and exciting way to learn basic math and counting, while also teaching them an important lesson about the history and culture of the Jewish people.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.