the dreidel alludes to the four civilizations

​QUESTION: What is the significance of the letters, ג,ש,נ,ה
on the dreidel?
ANSWER: The four letters ג,ש,נ,ה represent the four
Monarchies of the secular world who exiled the Jewish people and caused us anguish.
  • The "Gimmel" is for Greece-Syria --who are headed by Gog ( גוג ). Yavan — Greece — was a descendant of Yafet son of Noach (Bereishit 10:2). Gog was from the land of Magog (a Yafet descendant) and was a king over families of Yafet (see Ezekiel Ch. 38).
  • The "shin" is for Sei'ir ( שעיר ), which represents Rome-Edom, as is stated (Bereishit 36:8-9) "Eisav settled on Mount Sei'ir — Eisav, he is
  • Edom. And these are the descendants of Eisav, ancestor of
  • Edom, on Mount Sei'ir."
  • The "nun" is for Nevuchadnetzar (נבוכדנצר) the ruler of Babylon and The "hei" is for Haman (המן) of Media-Persia.​
                                                                                         (ספר נרות שמונה)