Dreidel Research Paper

501 Words2 Pages

On a traditional dreidel, each side bears one letter from the Hebrew alphabet. Together, these letters stand for the phrase, “a great miracle happened here.” Played with during Hanukkah, this toy was originally modified from an English or Irish top that was brought to Germany. At the time, the top was known as a teetotum. Later on, the toy was adopted from German letters to the Hebrew alphabet. Other than the more story of Hanukkah, the letters also serve as a reminder as to how to play the game. Shin stands for put in, gimel means whole or everything, nun stands for nothing and he means half. In Hebrew, a dreidel is called a sevivon, which means “to turn around.” Playing With a Dreidel Across the world, Jewish homes play with the dreidel as a part of a traditional Hanukkah ritual. Any number of people can take part in the game, so it is ideal for any family size. Each player in the game is given an equal number of game pieces. While pennies …show more content…

Depending on your family's tradition, you may also be able to ask another player for a loan. Once someone has won the entire pot, then the round is over. Popular Dreidel Traditions While every family has different traditions, there are some that are common throughout the world. Today, many families choose to donate part or all of their winnings to charity. Some parents will also match the amount of money their children donate so that less fortunate families can have Hanukkah gifts. During Hanukkah, it is also common for children to be given Hanukkah gelt (money). This tradition started in the 17th century by Jewish families in Poland. During the 20th century, American chocolatiers modified this tradition by creating chocolate coins. Wrapped in foil, these coins were given out to children during Hanukkah and were perfect for betting in dreidel. Today, many families use chocolate coins instead of actually money for playing

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