Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem (164 BCE) after Judas Maccabeus defeated the Syrians. They searched and searched for oil to light their lamps, but because the Syrians raided everything they could only find a single cruse of oil. Miraculously it lasted for eight days and this is why there are eight days in Hanukkah. On a menorah, a single candle is lit each day. The ninth candle in the middle is called the servant candle and it’s used to light the rest.
But what does the dreidel have to this with this?? (Because I’m sure you’re that's what you're asking yourself). Well, there are four sides on a dreidel and each side has a letter to represent Nes Gadol Haya Sham, "A great miracle happened there” (meaning the miracle of the oil). Each player gets 10 chocolate coins and you either win more or lose your stash.
- נ Nun "nothing"–nothing happens and the next player spins
- ג Gimel “all” the player takes the entire pot
- ה Hey "half"–the player takes half of the pot, rounding up if there is an odd number
- ש Shin "put in"–the player puts one marker in the pot
Now go light your menorah, spin your dreidel, and eat some latkes! (yummy potato pancakes)
You know I'm gonna ; )
Happy Hanukkah
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