The Month of Shevat

In Hebrew the term for months is "Chodesh," from the word "chadash" — new. Every month is connected with innovation and a special type of Divine energy that comes to the world. The month of Shevat is the 11th month of the Jewish calendar.

Shevat holds two qualities that seem to contradict yet reinforce each other. The symbol of the month is the d'li — the bucket (Aquarius) — used to draw and pour water, representing service and nurturing. Water represents the wisdom of the Torah; the bucket represents drawing Divine wisdom from the higher realms and bringing it down to the lower realms, called hamshacha. The name itself carries this: "shevet" means both tribe and the branch of a tree offshooting from its root — as the twelve tribes were offshoots of the patriarchs, drawing from the source.

The other quality of Shevat is leadership: the word Shevat means the ruler's rod, representing authority and power. It is a time to look for and establish the leader within yourself. The letter crowned in Shevat is Tzadik — the righteous person who combines both qualities: fulfilling the Divine will as a servant, while standing in authority, submitting worldly forces to the Divine will and elevating them.

This is connected to the sense governed by Shevat: eating. The eating of the righteous is not for physical satisfaction but for the refinement and elevation of the food to its higher source; according to the Ari Za"l this redeeming of the sparks begins with thorough chewing. This month is an auspicious time to rectify your eating so it does not block the manifestation of your soul but empowers it to shine.

The tribe connected with this month is Asher, whose territory was famous for its olive trees; olive oil represents the deep wisdom of Torah and strengthens the memory. The 15th of Shevat is the New Year of the trees. Man is called "the tree of the field," and the righteous person is compared to a deep-rooted, fruit-bearing palm. Palm trees grow their sweetest dates only when they grow together, their roots intermingling — so too we grow through connection with others, and this is an auspicious time to connect with a personal mentor, approached with respect and humility. It is customary on the 15th of Shevat to eat the fruits with which the Land of Israel is praised. Use this month to connect with your roots and seek the true leader within yourself — leadership that is not based on personal agendas but on giving oneself over to the service of others.