Although the dreidel’s historical origins lie in an ancient European game, Jewish tradition associates it with a legend from the time of the persecutions of Antiochus IV (167–175 BCE), when the study of Torah was forbidden. According to the legend, Jewish children would gather to study in secret, and when Greek soldiers approached, they would produce dreidels and pretend they were merely playing.
Thus, the tradition is said to have endured even under threat, and the simple game became a symbol of Jewish resilience and spiritual determination.
From this legend also emerged the symbolic meaning attributed to the dreidel: the letters Nun-Gimel-Hey-Shin/Pe served as an allusion to the central miracle of the festival - the miracle of the oil. Thus, the dreidel evolved from a simple game into a symbol of remembrance and endurance, accompanying the Jewish people across generations.
With the transfer of the tradition from the Diaspora to Hebrew culture in the Land of Israel, the dreidel acquired a new layer of meaning, expressed in the shift from “A great miracle happened there” to “A great miracle happened here.” In this transformation, the dreidel became a symbol of national renewal - of revival, building, and creation in the Land of Israel - a delicate meeting point between an ancient legend and the story of Zionist rebirth.
Limited Edition of 142 Units
This limited edition comprises only 250 pieces, created in honor of Hanukkah 5786. Each dreidel is crafted from solid red oak and bears a laser-engraved serial number along with the Hebrew phrase “Nes Gadol Haya Po,” rendered in the calligraphic design of artist and tattooist Omri Goldzak.
Dimensions and specifications:
Material: Solid red oak
Height: 14 cm | Width: 8.5 cm
Total weight (excluding packaging): 600 g The serial number of each piece is laser-engraved on the upper section of the dreidel’s handle.
Packaged in a rigid cardboard box and protected with foam padding.
Includes a signed certificate of authenticity.
$120.00
Includes an internal balancing weight; minor balance variations may occur due to the natural characteristics of solid wood.
