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CHANUKAH
Dreidel
Ahh,
the famous childhood Chanukah song. In fact, many of the favorite
Chanukah ditties revolve around the dreidel (no pun intended!).
What is this fascinating game?
The Dreidel is a four sided top with a Hebrew letter on each side.
Before the game begins, everyone is given an equal number of pennies
or candies, and each player places an initial deposit of coins
or candies in the middle of the circle. Each person then takes
a turn spinning the Dreidel. When it falls, depending on the Hebrew
letter that is facing up, the following occurs:
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Nun:
Nothing
happens and the next player spins the dreidel.
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Gimmel:
The
player wins everything in the pot.
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Hey:
The Player takes half the pot.
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Shin:
The player must put a penny/candy in the pot.
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Gambling!
On a Jewish holiday? What could possibly be the derivation of
this game? When the Syrian-Greeks ruled Judea (in the year 167
BCE), they banned the study of Torah. The Jewish people, however,
continued to study and to teach their children. Under the threat
of death, they met in secret, leaving a lookout to watch for
signs of the soldiers. When the lookout signaled, the books
were quickly hidden away and the Jews pretended to be gambling.
The letters stand for Neis Gadol Hayah Sham- a great miracle
happened there.
In Israel, the dreidel has a Pey instead of a Shin, for
Neis Gadol Hayah Poh - A Great Miracle Happened Here.
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