Last Updated on November 15, 2021

Dreidels and Hanukkah

Dreidels – plural for Dreidel is a Yiddish word for a spinning top. The Hebrew word is סביבון‬ sevivon. A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top, played during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

Hannukah Dreidel – Image credit: Unsplash

Dreidels are used by kids to play games during Hanukkah.  Dreidels are not just  simple toys – they are laced with hidden messages. Rav Nissim Mordechai Makor tells us more;

Playing with Dreidels

To play the dreidel game each player begins with an equal number of game pieces (usually 10–15). The game pieces can be any object, such as coins, beads, raisins, etc.

To start the game, every participant puts one game piece into a central “pot”. Every player also puts one game piece into the pot at the end of every player’s turn.

Each player spins the dreidel once during their turn. Depending on which side is facing up when it stops spinning, the player whose turn it is gives or takes game pieces from the pot:

-If נ‬ (nun) is facing up, the player does nothing.

-If ג‬ (gimel) is facing up, the player gets everything in the pot.

-If ה‬ (hei) is facing up, the player gets half of the pieces in the pot. If there are an odd number of pieces in the pot, the player takes the half the pot rounded up to the nearest whole number.

-If ש‬ (shin) or פ‬ (pe) is facing up, the player adds one of their game pieces to the pot (sometimes accompanied by the chant “Shin, Shin, put one in”). In some game versions a Shin results in adding three game pieces to the pot (one for each stem of the Shin).

If the player is out of pieces, they are either “out” or may ask another player for a “loan”

I have a little Dreidel – English words to 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.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, then dreidel I shall play.

It has a lovely body, with legs so short and thin.
When it gets all tired, it drops and then I win!
Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, with leg so short and thin.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, it drops and then I win!

My dreidel’s always playful. It loves to dance and spin.
A happy game of dreidel, come play now let’s begin.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, it loves to dance and spin.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel. Come play now let’s begin.

I have a little dreidel. I made it out of clay.
When it’s dry and ready, dreidel I shall play.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made you out of clay.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, then dreidel I shall play.

Chag Hanukkah Sameach!