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The Kabbalah of the Dreidel


Are you having a Gimmel day? (It's been a while, eh?) Or perhaps a Shin moment? (That one doesn't requires any explanation...) But did you ever ponder the fact that all four letters are faces of the same Dreidle?

22 Comments Posted
Reader Comments
Posted: Dec 25, 2005
Your article was really enlightening, and gives a much deeper dimension not only to Chanukah, but to our experience of exile and redemption. And I love the picture of the dreidel!
Thanks!
Posted By Shifra Chana Hendrie, Morristown, NJ

Posted: Dec 25, 2005
I am in as much shin days as it can get, when disasters seem to hit like strong waves and all is left is to trust G-d and uphold His righteusness with all I have. It was not by accident that I read your blessed article and was reminded that there is gimmel on the other side, and that all my suffering has a purpose,that all of it at the end will say: "the miracle happened here".
Thank You.
Posted By Anonymous, Phoenix, AZ

Posted: Dec 26, 2005
Marvelous
This is a great way to see the dreidle! In this moment of my life I have to see the whole picture and not only one single angle. This is one of the most inspirings articles that i have ever read at chabad.com. Thank you so much!
Posted By Joseluis, Mexico, 54910

Posted: Dec 27, 2005
Great
You lifted my spirit in many ways. Thanks,
Posted By Amos, newhall, ca
via chabadfoxchapel.com

Posted: Dec 27, 2005
this is a brilliant article-
May we see the completed tapistry immediately. Deep concepts were made so clear in the article. Thank you
Posted By leah, ced, ny

Posted: Dec 29, 2005
Boy, it seemed like it was just an ordinary dreidel.
Posted By Anonymous, Vancouver, Canada

Posted: Dec 29, 2005
This article is really so concise and clear. Anyone regardless of creed could easily take the meaning and apply it to their life. My friend Rabbi Goldman always tries to make the parshah at shabbos dinner like this, something you take away and can remember. To write like this is a gift.
Posted By Andrea , Philadelphia, PA

Posted: Dec 30, 2005
Great article!
Posted By YYS, NY, NY

Posted: Dec 30, 2005
Gimmel, Hay, Nun, SHIN or PAY?
The Gimatria of the 4 Dreidle letters was interesting ... but what's the gimatria of the ISRAELI Dreidel since there it's: Ness Gadol Hayah Po and not SHAM? Pay instead of Shin?
Posted By Muppe Glick, Topanga, CA
via chabadpalisades.com

Posted: Dec 31, 2005
Author's Response re: Nes Gadol Hayah Poh
The Israeli Dreidle spells "Hagefen". See Song of Songs (Shir Hashirim) 7:13, "The Grape blossoms have opened." See the Ibn Ezra on 8:13 where he refers to this blossoming as the Jewish people returning to Hashem, and thus being redeemed.
Posted By Yisrael Rice, Marin, CA

Posted: Jan 24, 2006
Chanuka Miracle
The Miracle of Chanuka

The Miracle was
not
a cruse of pure oil
having such stamina,

but
that
Jews
still stood,

after all
the years exposed
to heresy, humiliation,
and death,

in the Temple
Again, in awe
Again

of yet another
Miracle.

© 2005 Hal Taylor

Posted By Hal Taylor, Reno, Nevada/U.S.A.

Posted: Dec 12, 2006
Beautiful. It is amazing the depth and meaning in every aspect of life, when you take the time to focus on its message. Before I read the article, a dreidle was just a game to play with my kids. Now, wow!!! Who would of thought that a little dreidle could carry with it such a huge message.
Posted By Anonymous, Miami, FL

Posted: Dec 15, 2006
The gematriah of the Israeli Draidel is the same as the name of Mosiach as the Talmud tells us his name is Menachem
Posted By Anonymous

Posted: Jan 26, 2007
Kabbalah of dreidel
very refreshing and helpful.
Posted By kat rea, visalia, ca

Posted: Nov 19, 2007
Israeli Dreidel
This might be asking the question addressed by Anonymous, but anon's comment is not clear.
If it is an Israeli dreidel, isn;t the vaul with a pe, 158? So, what is that number's significance?
Posted By Norton

Posted: Dec 15, 2008
Wonderful! Thank you very much, I always wanted to know what the Dreidel is really about.
Posted By Esther, Berlin

Posted: Dec 6, 2009
The Driedel
Thank you very much for sharing the rich history. I found it very "divine" that the numerical value equals that of the Messiah.
What a wonderful and incredible G_D we serve!!!!
Posted By Rob, Albuquerque, NM

Posted: Dec 13, 2009
just something more!
Just something more to add to the dreiddl issue...
behind the shin, theres always the Guimel, even when we see everything like a shin, its really behind scenes a Guimel... a happy chanukah!
Posted By samy poliwoda, caracas, venezuela

Posted: Dec 14, 2009
Dreidel and Land of Israel
The Dreidel that we use in Israel is different because " Nes Gadol Haya Po". Po and not Sham....Here and not There.....

It would be interesting to know if there is any other explanation about the "Israeli Dreidel"
Posted By Freddy Maier, Kokhav Yair, Israel

Posted: Nov 14, 2010
Learning about the Jewish Religion
This web site has been very informative. Rob and I have a Jewish granddaughter and want to be able to share and understand her family's traditions. Thank You!
Posted By Rob & Debbie, Miramichi N.B., Canada

Posted: Dec 20, 2011
Dreidel - wow!
The wow I am feeling in my heart at this point in time is just too wonderful for words. I bless our Holy Heavenly Father and cannot wait for Moshiach to come. My heart is racing like a little child who will be opening a special gift soon. I simply want to burst from all the excitement.
Posted By Anonymous, Cape Town, South Africa

Posted: Dec 29, 2011
the significance of our dreidel
Drei is the number 3 in German and this number is of great significance. For Woman in Kabala. Rei is for King (Latin) and Ray aurally same as in Light!

As in this beautiful explication of the Dreidel
there is a deep miracle within meaning.

The Messianic beauty explicated and this harmony of One, the Echo within Echod reverberates throughout Creation.

We are moving fast into a universal consciousness that All is G-d. Let us hold hands around the world.
Posted By ruth housman, marshfield hills, ma

 


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