Rishon Rishon

Kislev: Month of Miracles

Today is the 17th of the Hebrew month of Kislev (כסלו). Kislev is considered the month of miracles. It follows the month of Heshvan, often called Marheshvan (מרחשון) because, according to legend, it is bitter (mar) for it has no special days. (Actually, the names of Hebrew months are of Akkadian origin, and in that language marh means month, cognate to Hebrew yerah, month. So, marheshvan means something like: month of Shvan. If you're wondering how Hebrew "y" can correspond to Akkadian "m", the answer is probably that the original letter was "w". It is well known that in Hebrew, initial "w" became "y". I don't know about the Akkadian, though.)

Kislev is the month that Israel really starts to turn green. Though the first rains usually come in the month of Tishrey (around Sukot), only in Kislev do they become frequent. The earth is now covered by a peach-fuzz of green, from thousands of sprouting seedlings per square meter - their thin stalks and two modest leaves a ground-hugging green mist over the land. The miracle of regrowth after a long summer of dwindling verdure.

The 25th of Kislev is Hanuka (חנוכה), the festival of lights, in which we celebrate the successful revolt of the Jews against the Seleucid Greek empire in 165 BCE, and the rebirth of the independent Jewish state - another miracle. The culturally imperialistic Seleucids defiled the Temple in Jerusalem, making it a place of idol-worship. When the Temple was recaptured, only a single phial of pure oil was found to rekindle the menorah (מנורה), enough to last a single day. Instead it lasted eight days. We celebrate the holiday by lighting an eight-branched candelabra, adding one candle each day. Not coincidently, this holiday coincides with the winter solstice, and the rebirth of the sun.

This month is also a month of miracles for me, personally. On the 20th day of the month, I was born. And on the 17th, five years ago today, I was married.

Congratulations will be accepted in the comments, on behalf of both of us!