CHESHVAN:
Month 8 | Cheshvan: Releasing past hurts–allowing God to transform pain into purpose
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Focus: Reflection
Letter: Nun (נ)
Tribe: Manasseh
Sense: Smell
Cheshvan is a month of no holidays and arrives on the heels of the month with the most holidays. In Jewish tradition, this is a solemn time of reflection in case one was excessively frivolous during the holiday season. Therefore, the first Monday, Thursday, and the second Monday after the Sabbath are commonly days of fasting from sunrise to sunset.
Jewish tradition teaches that Noah’s flood started during this Cheshvan. Ironically it is also when Jewish people begin to pray for the yearly rains. This practice is especially relevant in Israel, where winter is the rainy season, and the rain is crucial for agriculture.
Cheshvan is “reserved” for the time of the Messiah, who will inaugurate the Third Temple in the month of Cheshvan. Similarly, as the prophet Zechariah stated that fasts would become holidays, Cheshvan’s three fast days will be celebrations in the Messianic era.
Major Jewish and Biblical Events in History in Cheshvan:
01 Cheshvan: construction of Solomon’s Temple completed (dedicated following year)
10 Cheshvan: birth of Gad, Jacob’s 7th son
11 Cheshvan: deaths of Methuselah (969 yrs old) and Rachel (childbirth to Benjamin)
15 Cheshvan: Kristallnacht (1938) anti-Semitic riots in Germany
17 Cheshvan: Noah enters ark; rains begin
27 Cheshvan: God commanded Noah to leave the ark and repopulate the earth
DON'T MISS THE CALENDAR
Tishrei: The Month of Renewal in the Hebrew Calendar
God renews creation. Tishrei’s festivals all focus on the person praying, waiting, and relying upon the Lord. Consequently, this month’s other name (Ethanim meaning “strong”) makes perfect sense, as “they who wait for Adonai will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31).
Elul: The Month of Repentance, Returning, and Spiritual Intimacy in the Hebrew Calendar
Each day of the month of Elul (except for Shabbat and the last day of Elul), the Jewish people sound the shofar (ram’s horn) as a call to repentance. The Jewish people teach that the “King is in the Field” during Elul—God is readily accessible, willing to hear our requests and listen to our fervent prayers for the coming new year.
Kislev: The Month of Trust and Dedication in the Hebrew Calendar
Kislev is often playfully re-written as Kis-Lev (Purse of the Heart). Kislev is a time to examine what is in our hearts. It’s also time to fill them with reminders of the goodness of God. These concepts are most evident during the holiday that falls during this month: Chanukah, the Festival of Lights.