Hanukkah · Play together
How to play dreidel together
A simple rules guide, a clear start and finish, and room for first-time players.
Prepare the table
Gather a dreidel and an equal pile of counters for each player. For this version, use ten counters each and allow around 20 minutes. Paper score marks can replace small loose counters when those would not suit your group. This is a household game; no real-money stakes are needed.
The core rules below follow Reform Judaism's dreidel instructions. Agree on house rules before you start so that new players do not have to guess.
Four letters, four actions
- Nun (נ): take nothing.
- Gimel (ג): take the whole pot.
- Hei (ה): take half the pot; agree to round up if it is odd.
- Shin (ש): put one counter into the pot.
On a dreidel from Israel you may see pey (פ) instead of shin; use the same put-one-in action. The letters are associated with the phrase about a great miracle happening there, or here in Israel.
Play a round
- Everyone puts one counter into the center to make the pot.
- Take turns spinning. Read the letter facing up when the top lands and follow its action.
- When the pot is empty, everyone contributes one counter again.
- If someone runs out, use your agreed house rule: lend them a counter or start a fresh round together.
For a relaxed first game, finish after everyone has had five turns and count the counters. The five-turn finish and shared restart are optional adaptations, useful when a full game would outlast children's attention.
Add a little context
Keep a handwritten letter key beside the pot so nobody has to memorize the rules. Let a new player practice a spin before counting it. If someone cannot comfortably spin the top, another player can spin on their behalf.
The history guide explains how the game fits into a changing set of Hanukkah customs. It can be an enjoyable part of the evening without being the whole explanation of the holiday.