Dreidel an 18th Century Tee totem variant children's game

Dreidel an 18th Century Tee totem variant children's game

  The earliest known mention of a dreidel in a Jewish context dates to the 18th century

  The game was adapted by Jewish communities, with Hebrew letters inscribed on the dreidel representing Yiddish words: nun (nisht, "nothing"), gimel (gants, "entire, whole"), hei (halb, "half"), and shin (shtel arayn, "put in"). These letters served as a mnemonic for the game's rules. Likely adapted from the German game's letters N, G, H, S, which stood for German words related to gameplay.

  Over time, the dreidel became associated with Hanukkah, with the letters interpreted as an acronym for the phrase "נס גדול היה שם" (Nes Gadol Haya Sham, "A great miracle happened there"), referring to the Hanukkah miracle. In Israel, the letter shin is often replaced by pe, changing the phrase to "נס גדול היה פה" (Nes Gadol Haya Po, "A great miracle happened here").

  A popular legend suggests that during the time of the Maccabees when the study of Torah was forbidden, Jewish children would study in secret. If soldiers approached, they would hide their books and play with spinning tops to avoid suspicion. However, historical evidence does not support this explanation and is considered a later addition to the dreidel's lore.

·  In summary, while the dreidel's design and gameplay have roots in ancient European gambling traditions, its incorporation into Jewish culture and association with Hanukkah rituals began in the 18th century.

·  The Hebrew letters on the dreidel—Nun (נ), Gimel (ג), Hei (ה), Shin (ש)—

These letters also determine the rules of the dreidel game.

Rules of Dreidel

1. Materials:

   • A dreidel with four Hebrew letters: נ (Nun), ג (Gimel), ה (Hei), ש (Shin)/פ (Pei).
   • A pot of items (coins, chocolate coins called gelt, candies, or nuts).

2. Setup:

   • Each player starts with an equal number of tokens (e.g., 10-15).
   • A small number of tokens (e.g., 1-2) is placed in the center pot.

3. Gameplay:

   • Players take turns spinning the dreidel.
   • The letter the dreidel lands on determines the outcome:
     • Nun (נ): "Nothing" – the player does nothing.
     • Gimel (ג): "Everything" – the player takes the entire pot.
     • Hei (ה): "Half" – the player takes half the pot.
     • Shin (ש) or Pei (פ): "Put in" – the player adds one or more tokens to the pot.
   • If the pot is empty, all players contribute one token.
   • The game continues until one player has all the tokens or as long as players wish.

Where to Find More Information

1. Books:

   • The Hanukkah Anthology by Philip Goodman provides in-depth insights into Hanukkah traditions, including the dreidel.
   • A Different Light: The Hanukkah Book of Celebration by Noam Zion and Barbara Spectre explores various customs and their histories.

2. Online Resources:

   • The Rampant Strawberry Inn: explanings TeeTotems https://therampantstrawberry.blogspot.com/2018/08/t-totums-game-of-put-take-one-i-made.html
   • Chabad.org: Explains dreidel rules, history, and variations.
   • My Jewish Learning: Offers articles on the dreidel’s origins and its significance in Jewish culture.
   • Tablet Magazine https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/holidays/articles/secret-history-hanukkah-dreidel?
   • Library of Congress Blogs https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2022/12/the-truth-behind-the-hanukkah-dreidel-metafolklore-play-and-spin/?

3. Local Synagogues and Jewish Centers:

   • Many Jewish community centers host Hanukkah celebrations and include dreidel games, providing a hands-on way to learn the rules and history.