Women of Holy Blossom: Rosh Chodesh Kislev

Zodiac sign: Sagittarius

The month of Kislev is the 3rd month counting from Tishrei (fall) and the 9^th month counting from Nissan (spring). Kislev is a two-part word כס (Kas) which means ‘lid’ and it is interpreted as “to cover or conceal” and לו “Lo” which in the Gematria, both letters lamed (30)-vav (6) add to 36. These are the total number of Chanukah candles (not counting the Shamash).

Did you know? That Kislev is associated with the letter samech? ס which means “support”. The letter samech,ס  is similar to a circle, which has no end and it is infinite, a circle of continuity. Therefore, during the month of Kislev, we are uplifted as the circle also implies giving support to those who have fallen or sick either physically or spiritually.

The attribute of the month is “Sleep”. Why? Because through our sleep we are able to connect with the source of all energy and soul (Ain Sof) the infinite light of G/d is represented with the letter Samech סand our soul is revived through our sleep. The tribe of the month is Benjamin and the limb is the womb. The permutation is from Bereshit (50-11):

וַיַּ֡רְא יוֹשֵׁב֩ הָאָ֨רֶץ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֜י

And when the Canaanites saw.

Rashi asks; what did the Canaanites see?

The Midrash says, the crown of Joseph on Yakov’s coffin

In Kislev we celebrate Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, beginning on the evening preceding 25 Kislev (December 7) and ends 8 days later, which means Kislev departs as the Chanukah lights spread their ever-increasing brightness in the winter dusk. Did you know? there is a relationship between women to the story of Chanukah through the story of Judith as she is the reason why women are permitted to light the Chanukah candles. Judith was the heroine who saved the Jewish people by killing Holofernes, the mighty Syrian-Greek General.

May Kislev help us all to remove the Kas and become more enlightened, courageous and united amid our current adversity.

On behalf of Women of Holy Blossom and myself, I wish you peace, joy and health this coming holiday season. כן יהי רצון

Teresa Quiroz

Shacharit Service: Tuesday, November 14, 2023, 7:30 am ET, in-person or via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/93902401402?pwd=dGlOR2dEcGs1RVc0OVFwdkFtOVo5UT09
Password: 667580

For other upcoming dates and why Rosh Chodesh is special for women see https://holyblossom.org/rosh-chodesh/