The Month of Tishrei

The month of Tishrei is the seventh of the twelve months of the Jewish calendar and the first month of the Jewish year. Changing the order of the letters permutes the word Tishrei to Reishit, which means "beginning." This month begins a new cycle of Divine service and spiritual awareness.

The number seven is considered in Kabbalah a dear and precious number. As the seventh month of the year, Tishrei is satiated with holy days and with mitzvot. They generate their effect throughout the entire year.

The Zodiac sign of Tishrei is moznayim — the scale (Libra). The scale represents the process of Divine judgment which takes place during the ten days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Every person is carefully examined and evaluated according to the actions and choices that he made throughout the passing year. This judgment determines what will happen to each person in the coming year, spiritually and physically. The main judgment is done on Rosh Hashana itself. On this day Adam, the first man, was created and sinned. On that same day G-d forgave Adam as well. The world was granted the Divine gift of Teshuvah — repentance and returning to one's Truth.

The word moznayim (scale) has in it the word oznayim (ears). It is the inner ear that is responsible for balance. Spiritually, the ears represent the power of Binah — the ability to examine and distinguish the details of our experiences. It is through Binah that we can generate the highest levels of Teshuvah, culminating on the day of Yom Kippur.

According to the book of Yetzirah, the letter that dominates the month of Tishrei is called "Lamed," which means to learn and understand. This letter is distinguished by ascending above the upper boundary of the rest of the letters of the Aleph Bet. It represents the inner, existential longing and desire of every Jew to return to and connect with the absolute source of life — the essence of G-d and his infinite light. This longing is the core of the experience of Teshuvah during the Ten Days of Awe and Repentance between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.

The tribe associated with this month is Ephraim. The word Ephraim means procreation. Spiritually it alludes to the union between the male and female aspects of the Divine spheres which takes place during the holidays of Tishrei. The sense of the month of Tishrei according to Kabbalah is the sense of touch, which enables us to establish our own balance and reach out to connect and unite with others. The Divine union in the month of Tishrei is reflected by the unity and joy of the Jewish people during the holidays of Succot, Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah — the source of joy for the entire year.