The Month of Kislev 5766
~~~
Miriam Ben-Yaacov
Rosh Chodesh Kislev of 5766 is December 2, 2005.
Hanukkah is 25 Kislev through 3 Tevet (December 26, 2005 – January
2, 2006).
| 25 Cheshvan - 2 Kislev (Nov. 27 - Dec. 3) |
Toldot
|
Genesis 25:19 - 28:9 | Malachi 1:1 - 2:7 |
| 3 - 9 Kislev (Dec. 4 - 10 ) |
Vayetze |
Genesis 28:10 - 32:3 | Hosea
12:13 - 14:10 / Micah 7:18, 11:7 - 12:12 |
| 10 – 16 Kislev (Dec. 11 - 17 ) |
Vayishlach |
Genesis 32:4 - 36:43 | Hosea
11:7 - 12:12 / Obadiah 1:1 - 21 |
| 17 – 23 Kislev (Dec. 18 - 24 ) |
Vayeshev |
Genesis 37:1 - 40:23 | Amos 2:6 - 3:8 |
| 24 - 30 Kislev (Dec. 25 - 31 ) |
Miketz | Genesis 41:1 - 44:17 | I Kings 3:15 - 4:1 |
He made the letter Samech king over sleep
And He bound a crown to it
And He combined one with another
And with them He formed
Sagittarius in the Universe
Kislev in the Year
And the large intestine in the Soul
male and female.
--Sefer Yetzirah (Book of Formation)
| Month
of the Jewish calendar ............................................
"Single" Hebrew letter of the Hebrew alphabet ................... Spiritual "limb" of the soul .................................................. "Sense" of the soul ............................................................ Variety of soul-experience ................................................. Expression of the sefirot .................................................... Zodiac sign ....................................................................... Tribe of Israel ................................................................... |
Kislev |
Yaakov’s youngest son was Benyamin:
And it came to
pass as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name
Ben-Oni (son of my sorrow); but his father called him Benyamin (son
of my right hand).—Genesis 35:18
When Yaakov blessed the tribes, of Benyamin he said:
”Benyamin
is a ravenous wolf
In the morning he shall devour the prey
And at night he shall divide the spoil.”—Genesis 49:27
When Moshe blessed the tribes…
And of Benyamin
he said,
”The beloved of the Eternal
Shall dwell in safety by him
He shall harbor him all day long,
And He shall dwell between his shoulders.” —Deuteronomy
33:12
Benyamin was the only brother born in Eretz Yisrael, and pregnant with him, Rachel was the only one of the family not to bow to Esau. He was therefore the one chosen to be the first king, given the task of confronting and defeating Amalek. When Saul failed, the task was passed on to his descendants, Mordechai and Esther. This is the prelude to the eternal rule of the Mashiach, as Saul’s rule preceded David’s.
All the parshaot containing dreams are read in the month of Kislev. Each of the dreams of the parshaot foretold some part of the salvation Hashem was planning for the world in the troubled times ahead. The Torah unfolds the story through the details of the dreams. No matter how hopeless the circumstances of life might look, there was a plan already decided in Heaven. The family of Yaakov would not simply survive, but would flourish in order to come into their true purpose in the world.
Little wonder that the “sense” of the month is sleep! The Hebrew letter Samech, whose circular shape looks like a person curled up asleep, has a numerical value of sixty. Our sages say that sleep is one sixtieth of death, dreams are one sixtieth of prophecy, and Shabbat is one sixtieth of the World to Come.
“When the Eternal brings back the captivity of Tziyon, we will have been like dreamers….”—Psalm 126:1. The ultimate dream is the end of exile—Rachel is crying for her children. The culmination of that dream is the Temple, in the territory of Benyamin, where Hashem shall “dwell between his shoulders.” In the month of Kislev we celebrate the eight days of Hanukkah, re-dedication of the Temple after the victory of the Maccabean rebellion against the Greeks. It is a victory celebration of light against darkness that has epitomized each struggle of the Jewish People. The number eight speaks of infinity, transcending this world; interesting that the symbol of infinity is an eight on its side. As we kindle the eight lights of Hanukkah, we think of the purpose of Israel—to be a light in the dark world, to bring us closer to Redemption. And this is the purpose of the Temple—the dream, not just for Israel, but for all Mankind. |
Previous Months |
Shabbat shalom,
Miriam
Contact:
Miriam Ben-Yaacov
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