# Please Explain Dreidles to Me **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 15, 2000, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-dreidles-to-me/41238 "2000-11-15T01:50:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-dreidles-to-me/41238/1 "2000-11-15T01:50:33Z")
Is there an object to the dreidle game? Or are dreidles even used in a game? Are they just meant to be spun for the pure enjoyment of watching them spin… á la a top? ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-dreidles-to-me/41238/2 "2000-11-15T02:09:26Z")
You use a dreidel for a gambling game. You spin it, and depending on which side it falls down on, you get the jackpot, or some portion thereof. I can’t for the life of me remember how the M&Ms get into the jackpot, though. Some better Jew than I will probably be along in a moment… ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-dreidles-to-me/41238/3 "2000-11-15T02:13:05Z")
A Dreidel is a 4 sided top used to play a traditional game at Hanukkah. Any number of players can play with each putting 1 item into a kitty to start the game. (Pennies, peanuts, candy, raisins, etc. can be used - Everyone starts with an equal number of pieces.) Players take turns spinning the dreidel and doing whatever the rules say for the letter that is up when the dreidel falls over. One alternative possibility is to assign a score to each letter and play to an agreed upon total. Each side corresponds to a value: Nun - Player does nothing this turn Gimmel - Player takes all this turn Hay - Player takes half this turn Shin - Players adds one to kitty this turn The letters on the dreidel stand for the Hebrew words Nes Gadol Hayah Shom … " a great miracle happened there". The dreidel is a reminder of the few drops of oil that burned for eight days and nights after the Holy Temple was recaptured in 165 B.C.E. And then there’s that neato song… ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-dreidles-to-me/41238/4 "2000-11-15T02:15:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Green Bean \* > \*\* > Some better Jew than I will probably be along in a moment… \*\* Or a Methodist, as it were. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-dreidles-to-me/41238/5 "2000-11-15T02:18:19Z")
Once I saw dreidel with six sides. Or was I imagining things? Is there an advanced dreidel with two extra letters? If I made a dreidel (out of clay or other medium) I would put an aleph on one of the faces. If the aleph came up you’d win an infinite number of pennies.