Game Overview
Roll the die or spin the dreidel, and move clockwise around the menorah.
If you land on green (Jam-Packed), pink (Spin Class), or blue (Latke Lore):
Answer trivia correctly to Pick a Perk.
If you land on purple (Pot o' Gelt):
Follow festive prompts.
Whenever instructed, Take a Treat.
Make your way up the Path to the Shamash to keep your goodies safe.
If you land on red or a special symbol:
Scroll down for a quick guide.
Everyone leaves a winner!
What’s in the Box
1 game board
2 Path to the Shamash cards
84 Trivia cards
28 Action cards
Bonus Tater Tots deck
99 Perk tokens
48 Treat tokens
1 bag
6 pawns
1 dreidel
1 die
1 rule booklet
Gelt
Choose Your Goodies
Provide a selection of goodies not limited to the traditional chocolate coins—though those are certainly welcome!
We recommend ensuring some variety in your selection. For details, see Game Play with Gelt rules.
Keep any edible goodies wrapped until the end of the game.
Or
Presents
Ask each player to bring one wrapped present appropriate for any player.
Alternatively, the host could provide one per player.
And Tchotchkes
A selection of small gifts, which are wrapped and numbered.
These can be provided by the players or the host. For ideas or to play without tchotchkes, see below.
Tip: The full game can also be played with the included tokens.
Game Setup
Take the two player aid cards labeled “Path to the Shamash” and pass them out for easy reference.
Separate the remaining cards out by category (Jam-Packed, Spin Class, Latke Lore, and Pot o' Gelt). Shuffle each deck and place it on the corresponding square on the game board.
The Tater Tots deck offers easier questions for younger players or those less familiar with the holiday. If playing with it, draw from this deck any time a Tater Tots player lands on a question spot.
Set the pawns on the base of the menorah.
While we provide 6 pawns, the game can easily include more players! Simply find a trinket to allow each person to mark their spot on the board.
To play with large groups, see below.
Game Play with Gelt
Two separate piles (or containers, such as a bowl or bag). One should offer slightly larger items to be used as Perks, and the other slightly smaller items for use as Treats.
For example: use fun-sized candy bars as Perks and chocolate kisses as Treats. While you can use any two items that are clearly distinct (like nickels and pennies), we suggest including variety (such as different flavors) in each pile. Be creative!
We recommend at least 5 Perk items and 2 Treat items per player.
One large pile or container, filled with similar items, such as all same-sized chocolate gelt coins or all fun-sized candy bars. Here, too, we suggest offering some variety.
We recommend including at least 10 total pieces per player.
No gelt? No problem! Substitute the included perk tokens and treat tokens. For an optional twist, see page 8.
Game Start
The person who most recently made latkes starts the game. Then take turns proceeding clockwise around the players.
On your turn, roll the die or spin the dreidel.
Both options offer the same odds!
Move clockwise around the candles, following the shape of the menorah. If you're playing with a dreidel:
Move 1 spot for נ (nun)Move 2 spots for ג (gimmel)Move 3 spots for ה (hey)Move 4 spots for ש (shin)
If you land on green (Jam-Packed), pink (Spin Class), or blue (Latke Lore), another player draws a card from the top of the corresponding deck and reads the question aloud.
If you answer the question correctly, Pick a Perk according to the rules depending on whether you're playing with one pile of gelt or two.
If you land on purple (Pot o' Gelt), draw a card and follow the instructions.
If you answer the question correctly, Pick a Perk according to the rules depending on whether you're playing with one pile of gelt or two.
If you land on purple (Pot o' Gelt), draw a card and follow the instructions.
If a card’s instructions do not apply, simply move on to the next player’s turn.
If you land on red:
נ (nun): Skip this turn.ג (gimmel): Take 2 Treats.ה (hey): Take 1 Treat.ש (shin): Pass one of your treats to the player on you right.
With 2 Piles of Gelt
Whenever instructed to Take a Treat, take one piece from the dedicated Treat pile.
If the Treat pile runs out, whenever instructed to Take a Treat, steal one from any other player.
Continue circling the menorah until the Perk pile runs out. Then, each player continues around the menorah until they reach the bottom red נ (nun) candle, drawing cards as usual.
If you answer a question correctly or are otherwise instructed to Pick a Perk at this point, Take a Treat instead.
Once you reach the bottom red נ (nun) candle, turn up onto the Path to the Shamash.
If you would pass through the bottom red candle on your roll, turn up the Path instead.
Along the Path, follow the instructions corresponding to the symbol on which you land, including the red candles.
If you land on the gift box, do not follow the instructions for the symbol on which you land when moving backward.
Shamash Shakeup
If someone answers a question incorrectly, the first player on the shamash to answer correctly steals a Treat from any player who's not on the shamash.
All players continue to participate in the Pot o’ Gelt and Path to the Shamash instructions.
Game End
Or when all players have landed on the shamash.
Token Twist
At the end of the game, count 1 point for every treat token and 2 points for every perk token. Most points wins!
Tip: Want a prize for the winner? Ideas are provided in the booklet.
With 1 Pile of Gelt
Whenever instructed to Take a Treat, take 1 piece of gelt.
If during game play the gelt pile runs out, any time a player is instructed to Pick a Perk or Take a Treat, they instead steal one piece of gelt from any other player.
Each player must circle the menorah twice before starting up the Path to the Shamash.
If you would pass the bottom red נ (nun) candle on your roll, turn up the Path instead.
Along the Path, follow the instructions corresponding to the symbol on which you land, including the red candles.
If you land on the gift box, do not follow the instructions for the spot on which you land when moving backward.
Shamash Shakeup
If someone answers a question incorrectly, the first player on the shamash to answer correctly steals a Treat from any player who's not on the shamash.
All players continue to participate in the Pot o’ Gelt and Path to the Shamash instructions.
Game End
Or when all players have landed on the shamash.
Game Play with Presents
The person who most recently wrapped a gift starts the game. Then take turns proceeding clockwise around the players.
On your turn, roll the die or spin the dreidel.
Both options offer the same odds!
Move clockwise around the candles, following the shape of the menorah. If you're playing with a dreidel:
Move 1 spot for נ (nun)Move 2 spots for ג (gimmel)Move 3 spots for ה (hey)Move 4 spots for ש (shin)
If you land on green (Jam-Packed), pink (Spin Class), or blue (Latke Lore), another player draws a card from the top of the corresponding deck and reads the question aloud.
If you answer the question correctly or are otherwise instructed to Pick a Perk, choose one action:
Unwrap your present.Swap your present for any other player’s.
Presents exchanged may be wrapped or unwrapped.
Keep the present you have.
If you land on purple (Pot o' Gelt), draw a card and follow the instructions.
If a card's instructions do not apply, simply move on to the next player’s turn.
If you land on red:
נ (nun): Skip this turn.ג (gimmel): Take 2 Treats.ה (hey): Take 1 Treat.ש (shin): Pass one of your treats to the player on you right.
Each player must go around the menorah twice before starting up the Path to the Shamash.
If you would pass the bottom red נ (nun) candle on your roll, turn up the Path instead.
Along the way, follow the instructions corresponding to the symbol on which you land, including the red candles.
If you land on the gift box, do not follow the instructions for the spot on which you land when moving backward.
Shamash Shakeup
If someone answers a question incorrectly, the first player on the shamash to answer correctly may swap presents with anyone.
All players continue to participate in the Pot o' Gelt and Path to the Shamash instructions.
Treats and Tchotchkes
Tip: A mix of fun-sized candy bars makes an easy alternative to tchotchkes. In this case, omit the treat tokens.
When instructed to trade or pass a Treat, do so with one of your tchotchkes. If you have none, move on to the next player.
If the tchotchkes run out, any time a player would otherwise Take a Treat, they instead steal a tchotchke from any player.
If you would rather not steal tchotchkes, you can steal treat tokens instead. This triggers two additional changes:
The first player to land on the shamash draws a treat token. If none are left, steal one from the player with the most treat tokens.
The player with the most treat tokens at the end of the game wins one final chance to swap presents!
We recommend not stealing tchotchkes from your littlest players. Treat tokens are fair game, however.
Game End
Or when all players have landed on the shamash.
Without Tchotchkes
When instructed to Take, Trade, or Pass a Treat, do the indicated action with a treat token.If you answer a question incorrectly, you may return two treat tokens to the bag and Pick a Perk.If the tokens run out, any time a player would draw a treat token, they steal one from any other player.The first player to land on the shamash draws a treat token. If none are left, steal one from the player with the most treat tokens.The game ends once all players have landed on the shamash.The player with the most treat tokens at the end of the game wins one final chance to swap presents!
Ideas for tchotchkes and a prize for the Token Twist are included in the booket.
With Large Groups
Set aside the game board. Separate the cards by category and shuffle each deck.
Roll the die or spin the dreidel, and draw from the corresponding category:
נ (nun) or 1: Jam-Packedג (gimmel) or 2: Pot o’ Geltה (hey) or 3: Latke Loreש (shin) or 4: Spin Class
If playing with Tater Tots, draw from the dedicated deck any time that player's spin would land them on a question category.
If you answer a question correctly, follow the rules according to whether you’re playing with two piles of gelt, one pile of gelt, or presents.
Game End
If playing with presents: once all tchotchkes have been unwrapped, each player takes one more turn.
Path to the Shamash
Gelt coin: Everyone passes a Treat one player to the left.
Oil pot: Trade Treats with a player of your choice.
Menorah: Draw any question card. The first player to answer correctly Picks a Perk.
Gift box: Roll again and move backward the corresponding number of spaces.
Quick Reference for Red Spots:
ג (gimmel): Take 2 Treats.
ה (hey): Take 1 Treat.
ש (shin): Pass one of your treats to the player on you right.
A note for any colorblind players:
Each color of candle on our board also has a distinct pattern. The question and action categories can easily be matched to the back of the corresponding deck.
The red spots each feature one of the Hebrew letters found on a dreidel.
The red spots each feature one of the Hebrew letters found on a dreidel.
