Why do we spin the dreidel on Hanukkah?

The dreidel game is one of the most famous Hanukkah traditions. It was created as a way for Jews to study the Torah and learn Hebrew in secret after Greek King Antiochus IV had outlawed all Jewish religious worship in 175 BCE. Today we play as a way to celebrate a rich history and have fun with friends and family!

What is the dreidel game for Hanukkah?

A dreidel, also dreidle or dreidl (/ˈdreɪdəl/ DRAY-dəl; Yiddish: דרײדל, romanized: dreydl, plural: dreydlekh; Hebrew: סביבון, romanized: sevivon) is a four-sided spinning top, played during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The dreidel is a Jewish variant on the teetotum, a gambling toy found in many European cultures.

What is the proper way to light a menorah?

On the first night of Hanukkah, place a candle in the holder on the far right, and light it with the shamash. Then put the shamash back in its spot (leaving it lit). On the second night, light the candle second from the right, then the candle on the far right, and replace the lit shamash.

What does shin mean in dreidel?

The dreidel is spun and depending on which letter is on top when it lands, the player’s currency—be it pennies or candy—is added to or taken from the pot. (Nun means the player does nothing; gimel means the player gets everything; he means the player gets half; and shin means the player adds to the pot.)

What do the 4 Hebrew words on the dreidel mean?

The Hebrew letters inscribed on a dreidel are a Nun, Gimel, Hey or Chai, and Shin. The letters form an acronym for the Hebrew saying Nes Gadol Hayah Sham, which can be translated to “a great miracle happened there,” referring to the miracle which Hanukkah is centered around.

What does shin on a dreidel mean?

On each of the dreidel’s four sides is inscribed a Hebrew letter—nun, gimel, he, and shin—which together stands for “Nes gadol haya sham,” meaning “A great miracle happened there” (in Israel, the letter pe, short for po, “here,” is often used instead of shin).

What does HEI mean on a dreidel?

The dreidel has a Hebrew letter on each of its four sides. The nun, gimel, hei, and shin stand for the saying, “Nes Gadol Hayah Sham,” which translates to “a great miracle occurred there.”