The Month of Kislev

Kislev is the ninth of the Jewish months. The astrological sign of Kislev is the bow (Sagittarius). The first rainbow ever seen was in the month of Kislev — the sign G-d showed Noah after the flood, representing the covenant that He will never again bring a flood to destroy the world, and alluding to the final victory of light over darkness with the coming of Moshiach. The bow and arrow also represent the battle of the Maccabees against the Hellenistic empire — the few against the many — and the trust that G-d would grant them victory, culminating in the rededication of the Holy Temple on Chanukah.

The root of the word Kislev is K.S.L, which means trust. Chanukah is associated with the Sphere of Netzach — endurance and victory, which come through casting one's trust to Divine Providence. The faculty of the month according to the book of Yetzirah is sleep, an expression of inner security and peace. The letter that governs Kislev is "Samech," which means support and is shaped like a circle, representing the all-encompassing presence of G-d and His infinite light which embraces every person.

The two main events of this month are the holiday of Chanukah and the 19th of Kislev — the New Year of Chassidus. Just as Sivan is the month of the giving of the Torah, so too is Kislev the month of revealing the inner dimension of Torah. The most known miracle is the miracle of Chanukah with oil; in Kabbalah olive oil represents the innermost mystical aspects of the wisdom of Torah, where intellect meets the Divine. The 19th of Kislev is the day the Torah of Chassidus came out victorious over its opponents, with the liberation from prison of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of Chabad Chassidus — beginning the spreading of the wellsprings of Torah to the furthest places, culminating with the coming of Moshiach.

Chanukah begins on the 25th of Kislev and lasts eight days, on which we light thirty-six candles altogether. The Kabbalists teach that this light is a radiance of the primary Divine light that shone at the beginning of creation for thirty-six hours, with which Adam could see from one end of the world to the other; when the sin occurred this light was concealed in the Torah. The word Chanukah means dedication and training: every year we train ourselves to be present to this special light, which will be fully revealed when Moshiach comes. The transformation of darkness to light imbues Chanukah with great joy that, like a miracle, transcends all limitations.