The Jews were forbidden to study Torah so they developed the game of Dreidel as a decoy for studying.
They pretended to be playing and gambling but were actually praying and learning.
Today Jews are free to study and learn and Dreidel is a fun game that is played during Hanukkah.
This week the monkeys each painted their own Dreidel-
Each player starts with ten coins (usually chocolate Gelt coins)
Everyone puts one coin into the 'pot'.
One at a time each player spins the Dreidel.
If it lands on nun- You get nothing
If it lands on gimel- You get everything
If it lands on hay- You get half
If it lands on shin- you are shit outta luck (and put one in the pot)
Questions to consider while creating:
What does this art project about? What does it represent?
What shapes do you see?
What materials (mediums) are we using to create?
What type of paint are we using? (oil/water/ acrylic- we used acrylic a factory made polymer-based material which dries quickly)
Could this be considered a sculpture? (yes- it is three dimensional art)
24 comments:
great pictures! i love chocolate gelt!
Such lovely colorful images!
And you monkeys are so cute and focused :)
Never played this one!
I agree with Signe: wooo...such concentration guys!
Looks like the kids are having a blast!
XO
Lenore
I had no idea, that is so interesting. I'm all over any game that involves chocolate!
Games are the best way to introduce anything... I try to find games from different countries and cultures to play and then we can chat about that culture as we play... I'll definitely look out for this one! So interesting - thank for the info.
And... I have to apologize profusely for not replying to you kind email before Halloween... I feel so rude and an terribly sorry. I really did mean to reply but things just go on top of me and suddenly it;s now and I haven't yet. I so wanted to do a trade but was totally overwhelmed... I get through about 3 of the 7 things I set myself for each day.. it's ridiculous! I was coasting along doing nothing much for so many years and now I'm just so excited to do EVERYTHING!! LOL - I have to embrace my own limitations :-)
Anyway... I'd love to do it for next year... lets remember.
Blessing and magic,
Donni
baruch hashem for the freedom!!
I loved reading more about the story behind this! And look at your cuties (monkeys), so focused! Also love the colourful photos here. Hope it's a great Friday and weekend, Ren!
This brings back so many memories. I grew up in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood...we were the first Mexican-American family on the street. Anyway, I used to play this game with my buddies and I got pretty good at it!! I was a Catholic school kid by day, but once I got home from school, it was fun time with my "homies!" LOL
Fun looking game, and a nice way to keep the culture alive - especially if there is chocolate involved. xx
Cool! We are not Jewish, but I was thinking it would be fun for Finn to have a dreidel and learn how to play (although I don't remember how to play, so I need to learn first!)
Yea, that time of year is so close! Our kids can't wait to play Dreidel with yours.
Your lovely munchkins look hard at work and quite focused! Great pics too!
Your dreidels are lovely and your explination of how to use them is the simplest and best I have ever read! Thank you.
Now I just need to try and find a dreidel here in Switzerland so I can introduce the girls to this game.
Your kids look really engaged - it must be wonderful when they get to an age where they can concentrate on something for more than 5 minutes! I will definitely make a note of this one to play with my little monkey in years to come.
Kx
How fun-I never actually knew how to play Dreidel!
I had a Dreidel as a kid. I guess it was the goy version...
Nice paint jobs by the kids!
I didn't know the meaning of the Dreidel so I enjoyed learning its history. It's amazing how many people (in different countries) went undercover to keep learning their languages/cultures/religions etc.
What lovely pictures. Look how focused they are! xx
I've never played that :) But if I got to paint my own, that would be cool!
I didn't know the story behind the toy. Very cool.
gimel, gimel, gimel!
Lovely tradition - these are the memories your children will recall
when remembering the good/warm times of their childhood. Love
how you captured their concentration.
Clair
These are GREAT photos. I love seeing the pics you take of your sweet boys being creative! My boys love playing Spin the Dreidel and we're not even Jewish, but we still play! I want my boys to appreciate all traditions and learn from them :)
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