Spinning for the record books

The Jewish community at the University of Maryland is hoping to reclaim the Guinness World Record for most dreidels spun at once, which they last held two years ago.
In order to recapture the coveted title "stolen" by the University of Michigan last year, 610 students must participate in the event at 7 p.m. on Dec. 10, which was organized by the Freshman Council of the Jewish Student Union.
The event, titled "That 70's Chanukah Party," is intended to be a hybrid of Chanukah celebrations, 70's music and, of course, record-breaking dreidel-spinning.
Guinness World Record officials will monitor the event and count each participant as they enter the Armory on Thursday evening, Eric Merin, senior government and politics and communications major, and president of the JSU, said.
"Obviously, we want to break the record," Merin said. "It's all about who can get out. It's tough during finals week."
The event, which falls the evening before the start of Chanukah, will serve a dual purpose of reclaiming the dreidel-spinning record and celebrating Chanukah, since students are unable to celebrate at home because it coincides with finals week at the university. According to the event's Facebook page, there will be henna tattoos, candy menorah making, and music from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the dreidel-spinning contest will start at 8 p.m.
Though the event is organized by the JSU, the effort to break the world record for simultaneous dreidel spinning is not theirs alone. Joining the JSU are 14 other Jewish student groups including Maryland Hillel, Maryland Jewish Experience, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Sigma Delta Tau, Challah for Hunger and J Street U.
Whether the University of Maryland succeeds in its goal of gaining back the title they lost last year, Merin said this event is still a great opportunity to bring the Jewish community together to celebrate Chanukah as a group.