Can you top this? Start a family dreidel collection

I still come across those little plastic ones - red, blue and green - in drawers filled with odds and ends. Leftover dreidels from Chanukah Past; not exactly priceless heirlooms like some of the items we've mentioned in this blog, but nevertheless a nice way to remember happy family gatherings.

Dreidels are great collection starters. When friends and family see interesting ones on their travels, they're likely to bring one home for you. And if you know a relative with a dreidel collection ... well ... it's easy to decide on a gift for them.

Each year, new silver styles appear at Israeli silver shops, and there are many more out there.

New York's Jewish Museum has an interesting collection, all available for online shopping.

Some are from Israel, some by artists. Materials include ceramic, glass, stainless steel, anodized aluminum, silver and titanium, silver and onyx, hand-painted enamel and gold or silverplate, wood, cloissone, glass, beaded pewter, fused glass and metal -- even stuffed dreidels. There's a salt-and-pepper dreidel set to grace a holiday table, or one made of Nambe (a beautiful alloy used for expensive tabletop serving pieces).

These items can range from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars.