Dreidel: The Simple Jewish Game with Deep Meaning

The dreidel is one of the most recognizable symbols of Jewish tradition — a simple spinning top with four Hebrew letters that carries a powerful story of resilience.

The History and Significance

The dreidel game is traditionally played during Hanukkah. According to Jewish tradition, during the time of the Greek-Syrian rule over Judea, Jewish people were forbidden from studying Torah.

To continue learning in secret, they would keep a spinning top nearby. When soldiers approached, they would quickly hide their scrolls and pretend to be playing a simple game.

The four Hebrew letters on the dreidel — Nun (נ), Gimel (ג), Hay (ה), and Shin (ש) — stand for the phrase Nes Gadol Haya Sham, meaning “A great miracle happened there.”

This refers to the miracle of Hanukkah, when a small amount of oil lasted eight days in the rededicated Temple.

For Jewish people, the dreidel is more than a children’s game. It is a reminder of perseverance, the survival of Jewish identity under pressure, and the celebration of religious freedom.

How to Play

Players sit in a circle and each starts with an equal number of game pieces (coins, chocolate gelt, or tokens). Everyone puts one piece into the center pot to begin.

Players take turns spinning the dreidel. The letter that lands face up determines what happens:

• Nun (נ) – Take none

• Gimel (ג) – Take everything

• Hay (ה) – Take half

• Shin (ש) – Put one in

When the pot is empty, every player adds another piece to restart it. The game continues until one player has collected all the pieces — or until everyone simply decides to stop and enjoy their gelt!

[Download this image to print out.]