In Jewish tradition, most holidays are firmly rooted in a single month of the Hebrew calendar. However, the holiday of Hanukkah is unique in that it starts in the Hebrew month of Kislev but finishes in Tevet. Or, as Rabbi Heshy Grossman wrote, “it straddles the months of Kislev and Tevet, it relates to both, but belongs to neither.”
In what way does Hanukkah relate to the month of Tevet?
The month of Tevet holds profound historical significance in Jewish tradition, marked by several tragic events:
At the beginning of the month, the Judean King Jehoiachin was exiled to Babylon, accompanied by the kingdom’s officers, warriors, and craftsmen.
The sages teach that on the eighth of Tevet, the translation of the Torah into Greek (the Septuagint) brought darkness to the world for three days.
The ninth of Tevet marks the passing of Ezra the Scribe, the great Torah leader who had guided the Jewish return to the Holy Land from Babylonian exile and authored the Books of Ezra and Chronicles.
The month’s somber character culminates in the communal fast of the Tenth of Tevet, commemorating the beginning of the three-year siege around Jerusalem, which ultimately led to the breaching of its walls and the destruction of the Temple.
Tevet has long been associated with darkness, containing the year’s longest nights and some of the nations darkest days. The celebration of Hanukkah at the beginning of the month of Tevet recalls the words from Isaiah:
The celebration of Hanukkah extending into this month reflects the holiday’s special role in Jewish spiritual life – bringing light to what appears to be darkness.
This message is embodied in the practice of lighting one candle on the first night and adding an additional candle each subsequent night, mirroring the rabbinical principle of increasing in matters of holiness. The practice takes on special meaning as the holiday progresses into Tevet, when our most brilliant displays of light – the six, seven, and eight-candled menorahs – illuminate the winter darkness.
Hanukkah represents the triumph of spiritual light over darkness. The convergence of our brightest lights with Tevet’s lengthy nights and spiritually dark days creates a powerful message about spiritual resilience.
Its unique positioning reflects Hanukkah’s deeper purpose – to illuminate not just a moment in time, but to bridge periods of light and darkness. The holiday reminds us that even as we enter Tevet’s long nights, the glow of Hanukkah accompanies us, teaching that light can persist and even grow stronger in unexpected times and places.
This message resonates with particular poignancy today. As Israel continues its fight against forces of terror and darkness in a war that has lasted over 14 months, Hanukkah’s eternal message of light triumphing over darkness offers both comfort and inspiration. Just as the Hanukkah lights grow stronger each night despite the increasing darkness of Tevet, the Jewish people’s resilience and faith continue to shine brightly even in the face of profound challenges. The holiday’s timing serves as a powerful reminder that light can emerge and grow even in the darkest of times, offering hope for a future of peace and redemption.
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