Playing dreidel and dice or board games during Hanukkah are a reminder that in the time of the Maccabees, the people of Israel were not allowed to serve their GOD YAHUVEH—not allowed to worship, praise or pray, study the Torah, but they did it anyway! How is it a reminder?

Whether living in caves, the forest or imprisoned in jail, as they were persecuted and watched by their enemies on patrol, they would pretend to play such games when infact they were actually studying the Torah or praying.

This is not unlike the times we are in now, or what believers in countries like North Korea, Sudan or Saudi Arabia must do today. Let’s remember to pray for our brothers and sisters in different lands for one day we may face the same level of persecution and surveillance in our own nations:

It’s only a matter of time. Weigh your words carefully. [G]et used to looking over your back for even those you love if they’re not saved, will attack […]. Guard your tongue. Such were the days of old. Sad to say these days have come for some. For others it will come later. (Prophecy 102 YAHUSHUA Says, “It’s Only a Matter of Time.”)

May YAHUVEH gives us wisdom to know when is the time to proclaim our faith and when is the proper time to hide it—yet without ever denying our GOD or compromising in any way!

So as a reminder of this and a way to have fun and celebrate, we can play all sorts of games during Hanukkah, originally called “Sukkot b’Kislev” (Sukkot in [the month of] Kislev”)—and as it’s a commandment to rejoice during Sukkot (VV), likewise we are joyful during Hanukkah!

If you want to get straight to the directions, go here: How to Play Dreidel! (Simple Instructions)

What is a Dreidel?

A dreidel is a kind of Jewish spinning top and comes from the Yiddish and German words, dreyen and drehen, “to turn.” In Hebrew the same thing is called sevivon which carries the meaning of turning.

The dreidel game that we play today is not necessarily the same game played in Ancient Israel. It’s a gambling game from Europe, but similar games would have been played in the ancient Roman and Greek empires—and makes sense that the Macabees would have used this game as a cover.

The game as we play today comes via Germany and the four letters, one on each side, are an acronym in Yiddish for:

• nisht (“nothing”),
• halb (“half”),
• gants (“all”); and
• shtel ayn (“put in”) or (“share”)

A Great Miracle…

But nonetheless, the game and matching letters in Hebrew are a reminder that during a great time of persecution, “A great miracle happened there/here,” (in Hebrew nes gadol hayah sham/po)—referring to the Hanukkah miracles, mighty deeds, wars, deliverances done by YAHUVEH in Israel and especially in Jerusalem during the time of the Maccabees and beyond!

The greater the suffering, the greater the anointing! The crushing of olives brings forth the oil of anointing! The Joy of the LORD YAHUVEH & YAHUSHUA is our Strength!

Intro to Hebrew Letters

For many children, the dreidel game is like their first extended exposure to Hebrew letters, so Hanukkah is also a great opportunity to start teaching them a bit about the Hebrew alphabet [LINK COMING], to recognize a few letters and learn a few fun facts about Hebrew [LINK COMING] For example,

• Hebrew is the original language of GOD, the Garden of Eden, the Bible and Heaven! [LINK COMING]
• The names of the four letters on the dreidel are “Nun,” “Gimmel,” “Hey,” “Shin”
• In Abraham’s day, Hebrew letters were also pictures [LINK COMING]. Today we use a square script that doesn’t really look like the pictures anymore.

• Hebrew is written and read right to left—the same direction we count the nights of Hanukkah and number of candles needed each night for the Hanukkiah).
• And English is in the opposite direction, left to right—the same direction we count down to light the Hanukkiah.