Hanukkah spinning tops – also known as dreidels. The three spinning tops presented here were created in 19th-century Germany. Made of lead, they are shaped like a low cube with a spindle for winding. Individual Hebrew letters are embossed on the four rectangular sides of the circumference. These are: nun, gimel, hey, and shin. Together, they form an abbreviation of the Hebrew phrase: “Nes gadol haya sham” – meaning “a great miracle occurred there.” The dreidel is used in a traditional Jewish game, primarily for children. The game is a gambling game for four players. The Hebrew letters on the dreidel correspond to commands that determine the amount gained or lost. Coins, known as “Hanukkah geld,” given to children as holiday gifts, can be used as currency. Gilded chocolate coins are an alternative.
