The dreidel, or "sevivon" in Hebrew, is a four-sided spinning top that children play with on Hanukkah. Each side is imprinted with a Hebrew letter. The first three letters are נ (Nun), ג (Gimel), and ה (Hey). The fourth letter is either ש (Shin) or פ (peh). These letters are an acronym for the Hebrew words נס גדול היה שם (Nes Gadol Haya Sham - A great miracle happened there), or נס גדול היה פה (Nes Gadol Haya Po - A great miracle happened here). It refers to the miracle of the oil that took place in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem (Beit Hamikdash).
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