Why do we play dreidel on Hanukkah?

It's traditional on Hanukkah to play with a dreidel, which is a special four-sided top that h as Hebrew letters on its side.

The reason that Hanukkah is celebrated is to remember a miracle from hundreds of years ago when the Jewish people took back their holy temple from the Syrians, who had tried to outlaw the Jewish religion. Because the Syrians had been trying to make it illegal to practice Judaism, Jewish children who wanted to study their religion had to do so in secret! They would go out into the woods to hide themselves from the Syrians while they learned. But, just in case a Syrian came along, they always kept a top with them so they could put away their studies and quickly pretend as if they were playing, instead!

Today, we play dreidel on Hanukkah in honor of those who had to play the game in order to practice what they believed in!

by Mya Kagan (Whyzz writer)