As children, many of us eagerly spun the dreidel when Hanukkah arrived. This spinning toy, one of the holiday’s most iconic symbols, has an intriguing history, entirely unrelated to the Jewish revolt against the Greeks.
So how did the dreidel become such an integral part of Hanukkah? The dreidel’s story begins as a game of chance. It evolved from a similar object called a teetotum, used in ancient Greece and Rome. Archaeological excavations on the island of Sardinia have uncovered some of the oldest teetotum game pieces, linked to Roman culture. The teetotum was a spinning game piece shaped like a die, featuring a cube at its center and marked with dots, similar to modern dice.
The Yiddish Dreidel
The game persisted in European folklore, traveling from the Roman era to England and Germany by the 16th century. Over time, the numbers on the teetotum’s faces were replaced with Latin letters, each indicating a different betting outcome. When the game reached Jewish communities in Germany, they adapted it by replacing the Latin letters with Hebrew ones while keeping the original outcomes: נ (nisht) – nothing, ג (gantz) – all, ה (halb) – half, and ש (shtel ayn) – add a coin to the pot. This adaptation gave the dreidel its familiar design. Its English name, “dreidel,” also stems from Yiddish, derived from the word meaning “to spin.”
The connection between the dreidel and Hanukkah is fascinating. Some believe the game’s association with Hanukkah emerged due to its proximity to Christmas. In Germany, Jews influenced by local customs would pause Torah study on Christmas Eve. The long evening became an opportunity for social gatherings, including playing dreidel. Over time, the dreidel became tied to Hanukkah, and the meaning of its Hebrew letters evolved. The combination נ, ג, ה, ש was reinterpreted to represent the phrase “Nes Gadol Haya Sham” (“A great miracle happened there”), linking it to the Hanukkah story. In the early 20th century, as Jewish immigrants settled in the Land of Israel, the acronym shifted to “Nes Gadol Haya Po” (“A great miracle happened here”), making the dreidel a part of Israeli culture. This transition was accompanied by classic Hanukkah songs like Svivon Sov Sov Sov by Levin Kipnis.
Yemenite Filigree Dreidel
Over the years, dreidels have evolved in design, with artists adding their unique interpretations. At the Ben Zion David Gallery of Yemenite Arts, you’ll find an extraordinary selection of dreidels alongside other Judaica items. These range from classic square-faced dreidels to intricate designs inspired by crowns or flower petals, adorned with gemstones and crafted using the traditional Yemenite filigree technique. This silversmithing art involves creating delicate, intricate patterns from fine silver threads, giving each piece a stunning and timeless quality.