As winter’s darkness deepens in the Northern Hemisphere, the Jewish month of Kislev carries profound messages of hope and renewal. Kislev, the ninth month of the Jewish calendar, arrives when nights are longest, yet paradoxically brings with it some of Judaism’s most luminous moments.
At the heart of Kislev lies the beloved festival of Hanukkah, beginning on the 25th day of the month. This eight-day celebration commemorates two intertwined miracles: the triumph of a small band of Jewish fighters over the mighty Syrian-Greek empire, and the supernatural wonder of one day’s worth of oil burning for eight days in the restored Temple menorah (candelabrum). The festival, which celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, transforms winter’s darkest days into a season of illumination, as families gather to kindle their Hanukkah lights, adding one flame each night until all eight branches blaze together.
It seems deeply meaningful that the Second Temple’s foundation was laid in Kislev, as the prophet Haggai proclaimed:
The timing was profound, for the very purpose of the Temple was to radiate divine light into the world, as embodied in King Solomon’s distinctive architectural design. The Book of Kings tells us:
The sages explain that these windows were intentionally crafted to be narrow on the inside and wide on the outside, unlike ordinary windows that gather light inward. This remarkable design expressed a fundamental truth: the Temple was not a structure in need of illumination, but rather a source of divine light destined to illuminate the world. How fitting, then, that this sanctuary of outward-flowing light would be established in Kislev, the month that would later become synonymous with spreading light into darkness. Similarly, the portable Tabernacle in the wilderness was completed during Kislev, though its inauguration would wait for spring.
The month also marks when the first rainbow appeared after the Great Flood. As recorded in Genesis, God declared:
This celestial light show served as a divine promise that the world would never again be destroyed by flood, offering hope and reassurance to Noah and his descendants.
In our modern world, where darkness can take many forms – from literal winter nights to metaphorical challenges and struggles – Kislev’s message resonates with particular power. Just as the Temple’s windows were designed to radiate light outward, we too are called to be sources of illumination for others. The month teaches us that light can always overcome darkness, that hope prevails even in the bleakest moments, and that miracles can happen when we stand firm in our convictions. Just as a small flame can illuminate a vast space, even our smallest actions for good can illuminate the world around us.
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