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, each year potentially on a higher level. The month of Shevat is the 11th month of the Jewish calendar.

In Service

Shevat holds two qualities that superficially seem to contradict yet in fact 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 idea: "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 Leader in You

The other quality of Shevat is leadership: the word Shevat means the ruler's rod, representing authority and power. Shevat 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 of the month: fulfilling and bringing the Divine will into the world, while at the same time standing in a position of authority, not allowing worldly forces to take over but submitting them to the Divine will and elevating them.

Eating for G-d

This is connected to the sense governed by Shevat: eating. The eating of the righteous is not for the satisfaction of physical desire but for the refinement and elevation of the food to its higher source; according to the holy Arizal, this redeeming of the G-dly sparks in the food 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 satiates and empowers it to shine.

Tree Talk

The tribe connected with this month is Asher, whose territory in the Land of Israel was famous for its olive trees; olive oil represents the deep wisdom of Torah and strengthens the power of memory. The 15th of Shevat is the New Year of the trees. Man is called in the Torah "the tree of the field," and the righteous person is compared to a flourishing palm — deeply rooted in his faith, growing high and bearing sweet fruit — who must influence others and inspire them to grow until the whole world blossoms like an orchard.

Growing Together

There are meaningful findings in palm trees: a single palm does not yield sweet dates; only when palms grow together, their roots intermingling, do they bear the sweetest fruit. So too we grow through connection with others, and Shevat is an auspicious time to develop our social bonds and to connect or reconnect with a personal mentor, approached with respect and humility. On the 15th of Shevat it is customary to eat the fruits with which the Land of Israel is praised. Use this month to connect with your roots and to seek the true leader within yourself — leadership that is based not on personal agendas, but on giving oneself over to the service of others.