Take the 2-minute tour ×

Are dreidels muktzah?

share|improve this question
hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=50327&st=&pgnum=801 Here is a good source also against gambling. Thanks Gershon! –  Hacham Gabriel Dec 25 '11 at 1:03
add comment

5 Answers

Shemiras Shabbas Kehilchasah (16:32) says that "it is best to refrain" from playing games on Shabbos in which there is something to be gained or lost, and includes dreidel-playing in that category.

In the notes to the Hebrew edition, he references Rema's notes to Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 338:5 (where indeed he prohibits games involving winning something of value). Though Rema there goes on to say that "it is not necessary to protest against women or children [who play such games on Shabbos], since it's better for them to be doing so unknowingly rather than as a deliberate violation." So conceivably, especially when children commonly play with dreidels just for the fun of spinning them rather than for any stakes, then SSK's rationale might not apply.

share|improve this answer
add comment


Children should be discouraged from playing dreidel games on Shabbos, even when playing with candy, etc.(Mishnah Berurah 322:22) A dreidel, however, is not muktzeh.(Igros Moshe Orach Chaim 5 Siman 22 Os 10)

share|improve this answer
I'm confused about the Igerot Moshe reference...What does 5:22-10 mean? –  Hacham Gabriel Dec 25 '11 at 0:57
@H'Gabriel It's a sub-shaila. Sometimes in one numbered teshuva Rav Feinstein answers multiple questions. They are paragraphed in the original text. So see paragraph 10 in teshuva 22 –  Double AA Dec 25 '11 at 1:05
@DoubleAA thank you –  Hacham Gabriel Dec 25 '11 at 1:07
(This was posted as an answer to judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/12581 and merged hither.) –  msh210 Dec 25 '11 at 3:45
add comment

Why do you think they would be? Unless you were to view them as a tool for gambling and therefore a kli shemelachto l'issur (quite a stretch, in my opinion), I see no reason they should be muktzah.

share|improve this answer
I had some vague memory that there is a problem, but couldn't think of a good reason why there would be! –  ArghMo Nov 22 '10 at 2:08
Michael, if Dreidels are commonly used (isn't that their traditional usage) for a game involving money, how is it a stretch to say that they are Keilim She'Melachtan Li'Issur? Is your objection that they are not traditionally used for games involving money? If so and you can prove it, then I concede your point. But if you feel it's a stretch of the application of Kli SheMelachto Le'issur, in what way is that a stretch? –  Yahu Nov 22 '10 at 3:01
Michael I refer you to the Remah quoted by Alex from the SSK: hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14325&st=&pgnum=203 –  Yahu Nov 22 '10 at 3:07
It is clear from the Remah that one should not play games that are for any gain or loss on Shabbos. If that is the case, it logically follows that the pieces of such games (he was talking about games using nuts so this discussion would not apply to them) since they are set aside for a forbidden game, should fall into the category of K.Sh.L. –  Yahu Nov 22 '10 at 3:13
add comment

As has been noted, the Rama in Orach Chaim 338:5 reserves his restrictions on games to when thy are played for (financial) gain, and even then suggests one not correct women and children who do lest they come to transgress willingly. Chess and other similar games are allowed according to this opinion.

However the Mishneh Berurah 338:21 cites authorities who prohibit such game on Shabbos even if there is no gambling involved, and indeed they prohibit them during the week as well because of Moshav Leitzim. It seems that many/most are accustomed to be lenient about such games in general and even on Shabbos (so one should certainly consult their Rav before tossing such games out).

Dreidels are certainly associated with "playing for gain" so (as noted in the Shemiras Shabbos K'hilchos 16:32 cited by Alex) it is appropriate to refrain from playing them even according to the Rama. Since many often play without any real "playing for gain" perhaps there is room for leniency.

The question is whether or not a dreidel is muktzeh, however:

  • Since it is a "kli" (utensil) it cannot be muktzeh machamas gufo (inherently muktzeh).

  • Normally a dreidel certainly isn't muktzeh machamas chisaron kis (muktzeh because of monetary loss).

  • A kli shemelachto leheter (a utensil of permitted use) may generally be handled, and is not what we typically mean by "muktzeh" although we may not handle it for no reason.

Therefore we are primarily concerned with whether or not it is a kli shemelachto l'issur, a utensil of prohibited use. This is why the opinions which would prohibit playing it on Shabbos are signficant.

Nevertheless, playing dreidel is primarily associated with children (see Nitei Gavriel, Channukah 51:1), and as such it is essentially a toy, and probably in the category that children of chinuch age are allowed to play (see Muktzeh, a Practical Guide by Rabbi Simcha Bunim Cohen, page 145-14. As such, while adults should not play such games/toys, they are not muktzeh. This is the thrust of the p'sak from the Igros Moshe cited in Gershon Gold's answer that "dice" and so forth are not muktzeh since they are intended for children to play with (Iggros Moshe O.C.5 22:10).

share|improve this answer
add comment

According to shtaygen.co.il, citing Sefer Luach Muktza Hashalem, a regular dreidel is permitted, but ones that light, make music, or draw aren't.

share|improve this answer
add comment

Your Answer


