23-12-2003 21:47									#1
	dreydel - a chanukkah game Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

The game

The dreydel is a four sided top. On each side is a Hebrew letter - Nun, gimel, Hai, Shin (in Israel the letter Pey is substituted for Shin, for reasons that will be explained later)

The game is a gambling game and may be played for money, or, more commonly, for chocolate coins called "gelt"

The pot is established. It may be done by ante of 2 or more coins, or simply by pouring out gelt from a bag.

Players spin in turn. A spin of gimmel results in the player taking the entire pot (G = get, gimmel = Ganz, all)
A spin of hay results in taking half the pot (h-half, Hey= Halb, half) A spin of nun and nothing happens (n-nothing, nun = nisht, nothing) A spin of Shin and the player puts in one or two coins.

In some variations a diminished pot is replenished by further ante, in others by replenishment from a bag of chocolate coins.

	23-12-2003 21:49									#2
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why a gambling game on a religious holiday?


It is said that when the Syrian Greeks banned the study of Torah, Jews continued to study together, and when challenged, used gambling as a cover for their gathering.

	24-12-2003 01:52									#3
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those sneaky jews....

	24-12-2003 02:50									#4
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what do the letters stand for?

Nes gadol haya sham - a great miracle happened there.

What miracle? In attempting to purify the Temple (bet mikdash)the only non-profaned oil found was a cruse of oil enugh to last for one day. However it lasted for eight days, long enough to procure more oil.

In Israel dreydels have the letter pey in place of Shin. Nes gadol haya po - a great miracle happened HERE.


POTM thought it was really kewl when someone gave her an Israeli dreydel.

	24-12-2003 13:15									#5
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How about a pic of POTM?

	24-12-2003 20:27									#6
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quote: Originally posted by Azazel How about a pic of POTM?

Yeah, right

Nothing personal - QOTM is on the paranoid side about the internet - she'd be antsy about posting even a baby pic.

	25-12-2003 15:48									#7
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Well, she's right. You know, with computer software today, one could easily extrapolate her looks today..... AND TAKE OVER THE WORLD!

	27-12-2003 04:58									#8
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If we can't play this game, why is this thread in this forum?

	27-12-2003 19:48									#9
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Just to get us excited and wanting to play it?

-Jam

	27-12-2003 21:30									#10
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how exciting is 'exciting'?

	27-12-2003 21:33									#11
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Let's just say I had to change my pants, and leave it at that.

-Jam

	27-12-2003 22:10									#12
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Very informative.

But I doubt I'd ever want to play it. I don't even like craps much.

	28-12-2003 00:10									#13
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"Here's a little dreidel
That's small and made of clay
But I'm not gonna play with it
'Cos dreidel's f*cking gay."

	28-12-2003 00:56									#14
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quote: Nes gadol haya sham - a great miracle happened there. In Israel dreydels have the letter pey in place of Shin. Nes gadol haya po - a great miracle happened HERE.

Just when you thought you know everything, people come up with more obvious stuff you dont.

	28-12-2003 02:10									#15
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You didn't know this?

	28-12-2003 06:03									#16
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quote: Originally posted by Jamski Just to get us excited and wanting to play it? -Jam

I find the info quite interesting...........but posting it here is just a tease.

	28-12-2003 18:40									#17
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I'm going to make one and play it on New Year's Eve for beer. Kosher beer of course

-Jam

	28-12-2003 22:55									#18
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quote: Originally posted by Azazel You didn't know this?

To avoid misunderstandings, I knew the meaning of the letters, of course, but I didnt know that there is a difference between the letters in the Israeli and Exile versions on the Dreydel.

	31-12-2003 02:27									#19
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quote: Originally posted by DrSpike If we can't play this game, why is this thread in this forum?

Of course you can play it. Dreydels are widely avaibable for sale.

I think theres also an online site where you can play - i'll take a look.

Not available as a PC or console game, AFAIK though

	31-12-2003 02:28									#20
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quote: Originally posted by Jamski I'm going to make one and play it on New Year's Eve for beer. Kosher beer of course -Jam

Most major beers in the US are kosher, IIUC. Not too difficult to accomplish.

	31-12-2003 02:29									#21
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quote: Originally posted by Eli To avoid misunderstandings, I knew the meaning of the letters, of course, but I didnt know that there is a difference between the letters in the Israeli and Exile versions on the Dreydel.

You thought it said Nun-gimmel-hay-po everywhere, i take it.

	02-01-2004 01:31									#22
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Yep.

	04-01-2004 23:37									#23
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ignoramus.