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<span style="font-size:200%">ה</span> ([[He (letter)|Hei]]),
<span style="font-size:200%">ה</span> ([[He (letter)|Hei]]),
<span style="font-size:200%">ש</span> ([[Shin (letter)|Shin]]),
<span style="font-size:200%">ש</span> ([[Shin (letter)|Shin]]),
which together form the acronym for "'''נ'''ס '''ג'''דול '''ה'''יה '''ש'''ם" ('''N'''es '''G'''adol '''H'''ayah '''Sh'''am – "a great miracle happened there"). These letters also form a mnemonic for the rules of a gambling game played with a dreidel: Nun stands for the [[Yiddish]] word ''nite'' ("nothing"), Hei stands for ''halb'' ("half"), Gimel for ''gants'' ("all"), and Shin for ''shteln'' ("put"). In [[Israel]], the fourth side of most dreidels is inscribed with the letter <span style="font-size:200%">פ</span> ([[Pe (letter)|Pei]]), rendering the acronym, '''נ'''ס '''ג'''דול '''ה'''יה '''פ'''ה, '''''N'''es '''G'''adol '''H'''ayah '''P'''o''&mdash;"A great miracle happened here" referring to the miracle occurring in the land of Israel. Some stores in [[Haredi Judaism|Haredi]] neighbourhoods may sell the traditional '''ש''' dreidels.
which together form the acronym for "'''נ'''ס '''ג'''דול '''ה'''יה '''ש'''ם" ('''N'''es '''G'''adol '''H'''ayah '''Sh'''am – "a great miracle happened there"). These letters also form a mnemonic for the rules of a gambling game played with a dreidel: Nun stands for the [[Yiddish]] word ''nite'' ("nothing"), Hei stands for ''halb'' ("half"), Gimel for ''gants'' ("all"), and Shin for ''shteln'' ("put"). In [[Israel]], the fourth side of most dreidels is inscribed with the letter <span style="font-size:200%">פ</span> ([[Pe (letter)|Pei]]), rendering the acronym, '''נ'''ס '''ג'''דול '''ה'''יה '''פ'''ה, '''''N'''es '''G'''adol '''H'''ayah '''P'''o''&mdash;"A great miracle happened here" referring to the miracle occurring in the land of Israel. Some stores in [[Haredi Judaism|Haredi]] neighbourhoods sell the '''ש''' dreidels.


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
[[File:Colorful dreidels2.JPG|thumb|250px|Dreidels for sale at [[Mahane Yehuda]] market in [[Jerusalem]]]]
[[File:Colorful dreidels2.JPG|thumb|250px|Dreidels for sale at [[Mahane Yehuda]] market in [[Jerusalem]]]]
The [[Yiddish]] word "dreydl" comes from the word "dreyen" ("to turn"). The [[Hebrew]] word "sevivon" comes also from the root "SBB" ("to turn") and was invented by [[Itamar Ben-Avi]] (the son of [[Eliezer Ben-Yehuda]]) when he was 5 years old. [[Hayyim Nahman Bialik]] used a different word, "kirkar" (from the root "KRKR" - "to spin"), in his poems<ref>http://benyehuda.org/bialik/bia_chds54.html</ref>, but it was not adopted into spoken Hebrew.
The [[Yiddish]] word "dreydl" comes from the word "dreyen" ("to turn"). The [[Hebrew]] word "sevivon" comes also from the root "SBB" ("to turn") and was invented by [[Itamar Ben-Avi]] (the son of [[Eliezer Ben-Yehuda]]) when he was 5 years old. [[Hayyim Nahman Bialik]] used a different word, "kirkar" (from the root "KRKR" - "to spin"), in his poems<ref>[http://benyehuda.org/bialik/bia_chds54.html Ben Yehuda organization: Bialik]</ref>, but it was not adopted into spoken Hebrew.
==Symbolism==
==Symbolism==
Some Jewish commentators ascribe symbolic significance to the markings on the dreidel. One commentary, for example, connects the four letters with the four exiles to which the nation of Israel was historically subject&mdash;[[Babylonia]], [[Persia]], [[Greece]], and [[Ancient Rome|Rome]].<ref>[http://www.ohr.org.il/yhiy/article.php/1309 Ohr Somayach :: Chanukah :: The Secret of the Dreidel<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Some Jewish commentators ascribe symbolic significance to the markings on the dreidel. One commentary, for example, connects the four letters with the four exiles to which the nation of Israel was historically subject&mdash;[[Babylonia]], [[Persia]], [[Greece]], and [[Ancient Rome|Rome]].<ref>[http://www.ohr.org.il/yhiy/article.php/1309 Secret of the Dreidel]</ref>


While not being mandated ([[mitzvah]]) for Hanukkah (the only mandated ''mitzvot'' are lighting candles and saying the full hallel), the Dreidel is a customary game played during the holiday and has become one of the symbols associated with Hanukkah.
While not a mandated ([[mitzvah]]) for Hanukkah (the only mandated ''mitzvot'' are lighting candles and saying the full hallel), spinning the dreidel is a traditional game played during the holiday and has become one of the symbols associated with Hanukkah.


==Rules of the game==
==Rules of the game==
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**c) If ה (''hei'') is facing up, the player gets half of the pieces in the pot. (If there is an odd number, they round up)
**c) If ה (''hei'') is facing up, the player gets half of the pieces in the pot. (If there is an odd number, they round up)
**d) If ש (''shin'') or פ (''pei'') is facing up, the player adds a game piece to the pot.
**d) If ש (''shin'') or פ (''pei'') is facing up, the player adds a game piece to the pot.
*If the player is out of pieces, they are either "out" or may ask another player for a "loan".<ref>http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Jewish_Holidays/Hanukkah/At_Home/Dreidel/How_To_Play.shtml</ref>
*If the player is out of pieces, they are either "out" or may ask another player for a "loan".<ref>[http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Jewish_Holidays/Hanukkah/At_Home/Dreidel/How_To_Play.shtml How to Play]</ref>
==Dreidel tournaments==
==Dreidel tournaments==
Dreidel is now a competitive sport in North America. Major League Dreidel (MLD), founded in New York City in 2007, hosts dreidel tournaments during the holiday of Hanukkah. In MLD tournaments the player with the longest Time of Spin (TOS) is the winner. MLD is played on a Spinagogue, the official spinning stadium of Major League Dreidel. Pamskee is the 2007 MLD Champion. Virtual Dreidel is the 2008 MLD Champion <ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98610612]</ref>. In 2009, Major League Dreidel launched a game version of the Spinagogue and MLD tournaments and original games are now being played around the country during Hanukkah<ref>[http://www.moderntribe.com/judaica/hanukkah/spinagogue/spinagogue]</ref>.
Dreidel is now a competitive sport in North America. Major League Dreidel (MLD), founded in New York City in 2007, hosts dreidel tournaments during the holiday of Hanukkah. In MLD tournaments the player with the longest Time of Spin (TOS) is the winner. MLD is played on a Spinagogue, the official spinning stadium of Major League Dreidel. Pamskee is the 2007 MLD Champion. Virtual Dreidel is the 2008 MLD Champion. <ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98610612 No Gelt, No Glory: A Dreidel Champion Is Crowned]</ref> In 2009, Major League Dreidel launched a game version of the Spinagogue and MLD tournaments and original games are now being played around the country during Hanukkah.<ref>[http://www.moderntribe.com/judaica/hanukkah/spinagogue/spinagogue Spinagogue]</ref>


In December, 2009, Good Morning America published a story on Dreidel Renaissance due to the popularity of dreidel on the rise.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Weekend/dreidel-invented-dreidel-games-generation/story?id=9315727]</ref> Several new dreidel games have come out on the market since 2007 including No Limit Texas Dreidel<ref>http://www.texasdreidel.com</ref>, a cross between traditional dreidel and Texas Hold'em poker, invented by a new Judaica company called ModernTribe.<ref>http://www.moderntribe.com/</ref> Other new dreidel games include Stacabees<ref>http://www.staccabees.com/</ref> and Maccabees.<ref>http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/40728/battle-of-the-bees-two-games-put-a-new-spin-on-traditional-dreidel-game/</ref>
In 2009, Good Morning America published a story on Dreidel Renaissance reporting on the rising popularity of the dreidel.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Weekend/dreidel-invented-dreidel-games-generation/story?id=9315727 Dreidel Games Generation]</ref> Dreidel games that have come out on the market since 2007 include No Limit Texas Dreidel<ref>[http://www.texasdreidel.com No Limit Texas Dreidel]</ref>, a cross between traditional dreidel and Texas Hold'em poker, invented by a Judaica company called ModernTribe.<ref>[http://www.moderntribe.com/Modern Tribe]</ref> Other new dreidel games include Stacabees<ref>[http://www.staccabees.com/ Staccabees]</ref> and Maccabees.<ref>[http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/40728/battle-of-the-bees-two-games-put-a-new-spin-on-traditional-dreidel-game/ Battle of the Bees: Two games put a new spin on traditional dreidel game]</ref>


==Dreidel collections==
==Dreidel collections==

Revision as of 08:34, 23 November 2010

Wooden dreidel

A dreidel (Template:Lang-yi dreydl plural: dreydlekh[1], Template:Lang-he Sevivon) is a four-sided spinning top, played with during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

Each side of the dreidel bears a letter of the Hebrew alphabet: נ (Nun), ג (Gimel), ה (Hei), ש (Shin), which together form the acronym for "נס גדול היה שם" (Nes Gadol Hayah Sham – "a great miracle happened there"). These letters also form a mnemonic for the rules of a gambling game played with a dreidel: Nun stands for the Yiddish word nite ("nothing"), Hei stands for halb ("half"), Gimel for gants ("all"), and Shin for shteln ("put"). In Israel, the fourth side of most dreidels is inscribed with the letter פ (Pei), rendering the acronym, נס גדול היה פה, Nes Gadol Hayah Po—"A great miracle happened here" referring to the miracle occurring in the land of Israel. Some stores in Haredi neighbourhoods sell the ש dreidels.

Etymology

Dreidels for sale at Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem

The Yiddish word "dreydl" comes from the word "dreyen" ("to turn"). The Hebrew word "sevivon" comes also from the root "SBB" ("to turn") and was invented by Itamar Ben-Avi (the son of Eliezer Ben-Yehuda) when he was 5 years old. Hayyim Nahman Bialik used a different word, "kirkar" (from the root "KRKR" - "to spin"), in his poems[2], but it was not adopted into spoken Hebrew.

Symbolism

Some Jewish commentators ascribe symbolic significance to the markings on the dreidel. One commentary, for example, connects the four letters with the four exiles to which the nation of Israel was historically subject—Babylonia, Persia, Greece, and Rome.[3]

While not a mandated (mitzvah) for Hanukkah (the only mandated mitzvot are lighting candles and saying the full hallel), spinning the dreidel is a traditional game played during the holiday and has become one of the symbols associated with Hanukkah.

Rules of the game

Each player begins with an equal number of game pieces (usually 10-15). The game pieces can be any object, such as chocolate gelt, pennies, or raisins.

  • At the beginning of each round, every participant puts one game piece into the center "pot". In addition, every time the pot is empty and sometimes if it has one game piece left, every player puts one in the pot.
  • Each player spins the dreidel once during their turn. Depending on which side is facing up when it stops spinning, they give or take game pieces from the pot:
    • a) If נ (nun) is facing up, the player does nothing.
    • b) If ג (gimel) is facing up, the player gets everything in the pot.
    • c) If ה (hei) is facing up, the player gets half of the pieces in the pot. (If there is an odd number, they round up)
    • d) If ש (shin) or פ (pei) is facing up, the player adds a game piece to the pot.
  • If the player is out of pieces, they are either "out" or may ask another player for a "loan".[4]

Dreidel tournaments

Dreidel is now a competitive sport in North America. Major League Dreidel (MLD), founded in New York City in 2007, hosts dreidel tournaments during the holiday of Hanukkah. In MLD tournaments the player with the longest Time of Spin (TOS) is the winner. MLD is played on a Spinagogue, the official spinning stadium of Major League Dreidel. Pamskee is the 2007 MLD Champion. Virtual Dreidel is the 2008 MLD Champion. [5] In 2009, Major League Dreidel launched a game version of the Spinagogue and MLD tournaments and original games are now being played around the country during Hanukkah.[6]

In 2009, Good Morning America published a story on Dreidel Renaissance reporting on the rising popularity of the dreidel.[7] Dreidel games that have come out on the market since 2007 include No Limit Texas Dreidel[8], a cross between traditional dreidel and Texas Hold'em poker, invented by a Judaica company called ModernTribe.[9] Other new dreidel games include Stacabees[10] and Maccabees.[11]

Dreidel collections

In many cases, childhood enjoyment of dreidels has led to interest in collecting them in adulthood.[12]Jewish institutions such as the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, Yeshiva University and Temple Emanu-El in New York, house dreidel collections, as do museums such as the Spinning Top and Yo-Yo Museum in Burlington, Virginia.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ Dreydlekh is also a term in klezmer music
  2. ^ Ben Yehuda organization: Bialik
  3. ^ Secret of the Dreidel
  4. ^ How to Play
  5. ^ No Gelt, No Glory: A Dreidel Champion Is Crowned
  6. ^ Spinagogue
  7. ^ Dreidel Games Generation
  8. ^ No Limit Texas Dreidel
  9. ^ Tribe
  10. ^ Staccabees
  11. ^ Battle of the Bees: Two games put a new spin on traditional dreidel game
  12. ^ Oh Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel: A favorite holiday pastime takes center table
  13. ^ Oh Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel: A favorite holiday pastime takes center table
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dreidels.
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