Kislev

Kislev

Kislev ( כִּסְלֵו) is the ninth month of the ecclesiastical year and the third month of the civil year on the Hebrew calendar. The month generally has 30 days, but because of the Rosh Hashanah postponement rules, in some years it is only 29 days. In the Gregorian calendar, Kislev falls between November and December. Kislev is a month of expectation and hope for rain in the Land of Israel.

Kislev is the month of Chanukah, the only Jewish holiday that spans two months ~ Kislev and Tevet. Chanukah is an 8-day holiday beginning on the 25th of Kislev and ending on either the 2nd or 3rd of Tevet. Chanukah is not a Biblical holiday, thus is considered a “minor” holiday.

Chanukah commemorates the Maccabean revolt and victory over the Greeks. It further commemorates the rededication of the Temple, which the Greeks had defiled. Tradition teaches that the there was only enough oil to light the lamp in the temple for 1 day, but a miracle happened allowing the lamp to remain lit for 8 days. This allowed the Jews to purify more oil for the lamp.

Chanukah is celebrated by lighting a Chanukah Menorah, which contains 8 candles, plus an extra or shammosh (a separate “helper” candle). The shammosh is set apart from the other candles, and is used to light the Chanukah candles. On the first night of Chanukah, only one candle is lit. With each successive night, an additional candle is light, until the last night when all the candles are lit. The Chanukah Menorah should be placed in a window for public display.

Traditionally foods fried in oil are eaten during Chanukah. This includes such delicacies as potato latkes and donuts.

Tradition teaches that G~d showed Noah a rainbow during the month of Kislev to show that He would not again destroy the world.

Famous Women Associated with Kislev:
Emma Lazarus (d. November 19, 1887 / 3 Kislev 5648). Emma Lazarus was an American-Jewish poet, whose most famous poem is entitled The New Colosus, several lines of which are inscribed on a plaque on the Statute of Liberty.

Hannah Greenbaum Solomon (d. December 7, 1942 / 28 Kislev 5703). Hannah Solomon was the founder of the National Council of Jewish Women.

Golda Meir (d. December 8, 1978 / 8 Kislev 5739). Golda Meir was Israel’s first female Prime Minister and held that office from 1969 until 1974.

In the year 2011, the month of Kislev began at sundown on Saturday, November 26, 2011.

Tol'dot / Genesis 25:19 ~ 28:9

Tol'dot: Generations

This parsha tells the story of Isaac and his family. Isaac was already a middle-aged man when he married Rebekah. After many years of marriage, Rebekah learned that she was pregnant with twins. G~d told her that she was carrying two separate nations, and the younger twin would rule over the younger one. Her first born twin was red and hairy, so he was named Esau. The second twin was holding on to his brother’s heal, and he was named Jacob.

Esau was a hunter and Isaac’s favorite son. Rebekah, however, preferred Jacob, who was more mild mannered. One day Esau returned from hunting and demanded some of Jacob’s lentil stew. Jacob promised Esau his food upon the condition that Esau sell him his birthright. Esau was so hungry, that he readily agreed.

This parsha also contains a Wife/Sister story. Isaac and Rebekah encountered some men of Gerar. Isaac, fearing that the men would kill him to gain access to Rebekah, told the men that Rebekah was his sister. King Abimelech, however, saw Isaac with Rebekah and realized that she was not Isaac’s sister. Ultimately, this story has a happy ending and the King instructed his people not to harm either Isaac or Rebekah.
When Esau was 40 years old, he married two Hittite women ~ Judith and Basemath. Neither Isaac nor Rebekah were happy with his choice of wives.

By now, Isaac was an old, frail man and is nearly blind. He asked Esau to hunt him some game and prepare a nice meat meal, then he will bless his son. Rebekah overheard the conversation and decided that her favorite son should receive the blessing. She instructed Jacob to kill two choice goats and prepared a meal for Jacob to give to Isaac. Jacob covered his skin with the goat’s hide so as to further deceive Isaac into thinking that he, Jacob, was really Esau. Jacob then received the blessing intended for Esau.

Jacob’s actions caused a rift between the brothers. Jacob fearing that Esau would kill him, after Isaac’s death, fled to Haran to live with his uncle Laban.

Chayei Sarah / Genesis 23:1 ~ 25:18

Chayei Sarah: The Life of Sarah

This parasha opens with the death of Sarah. After the binding of Isaac in the previous parasha, there is no record that Sarah ever spoke with Abraham again. Sarah died in Hebron, leading Abraham to procure a burial spot for his wife. Abraham purchased the Cave of Machpelah as the family burial grounds. Torah describes in great detail the negotiations of the purchase of this piece of property. The purchase of this property establishes Abraham’s legal ownership of the Promised Land.

Abraham then must arrange a marriage for Isaac. He sent a servant back to their homeland to find a suitable wife. The servant encountered Rebekah at the well. She exhibited all the traits Abraham wanted in a wife for his son. She extended the servant hospitality and offered him water she drew from the well. Rebekah invited the servant to her home, where he met Rebekah’s father and other family members. Rebekah was persuaded to return with the servant to Abraham, where she married Isaac.

Abraham remarried. His second wife was Keturah. Although they have several children together, it is Isaac who inherits the Abraham’s blessings. At age 175, Abraham died and was buried next to Sarah in the Cave of Machpelah.

Va-Yerah / Genesis 18:1 ~ 22:24

Va-Yerah: He Saw

Abraham, still recovering from his circumcision, was sitting outside his tent, when he sees three strangers approaching. He offered them hospitality. As Sarah prepared a meal for of bread, milk and meat (this is before the laws of kashrut have been handed down), the strangers asked Abraham about her. They informed Abraham that within the year, Sarah will have a son. Sarah heard this and laughed, thinking that at her age, she is well beyond childbearing.

Suddenly, the story turns back to Lot and his family living in Sodom and Gomorrah. The strangers left Abraham and headed towards Sodom, where wickedness thrives. G~d told Abraham that He intended to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham argued with G~d, pleading against such blanket punishment, noting that such treatment would cause the deaths of innocents as well as the wicked. G~d agreed and promised that if there were 10 righteous people in the cities, he would spare the city from total destruction. Abraham's argument with G~d exemplifies a Jewish trait.

Meanwhile, two strangers entered Sodom and visited Lot. The townspeople cried out for the strangers. The text hints that the towns people want to rape Lot's guests. Lot, instead, offered the townspeople his virgin daughters instead of offering up his guests for the abuse. An angel intervened and protected the daughters. Lot and his family were allowed to leave the city, but were told not to look back as the city was destroyed. Lot's wife disobeyed and was turned into a pillar of salt. Believing that the entire world has been destroyed and they are the only survivors, Lot's daughters got their father drunk, then slept with him in order to procreate and re-populate the world. One daughter bore a son whom she named Moab, the ancestor of the Moabites. Ruth, who is an ancestor of King David, was a Moabite. The other daughter bore a son whom she namee Ben Ammi, who is the ancestor of the Ammonites.

Abraham and Sarah set out on a journey, settling in Gerar, where, once again, Abraham passed Sarah off as his sister. King Abimelech took Sarah, thinking she is available. G~d intercedes, and informed the king in a dream that Sarah was married to Abraham. The king gives Abraham gifts and they part.

Sarah finally bore a son, whom she names Isaac., meaning :Laughter." Hagar and Ishmael were sent away.

G~d tested Abraham, telling him to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham and Isaac parted from Sarah and traveled for three days, finally arriving at Mount Moriah. There, at the top of the mountain, Abraham built an altar, bound Isaac to the altar, and drew his knife to Isaac's throat. At this moment, an angel called out Abraham's name. Abraham looked up and saw a ram in the bushes. Abraham exchanged the ram for Isaac and made his sacrifice. G~d then promised to make Abraham a great nation for sparing his son.

Interestingly, the Rabbis note at after this trauma, Torah does not record any further communication between Sarah and Abraham, and Sarah does shortly thereafter.

Kristallnacht ~ November 9, 1938

Kristallnacht, or the Night of the Broken Glass, was a massive anti-Jewish attack staged by the Nazis, that took place on November 9~10, 1938. Throughout Germany and Austria, synagogues were set afire and Jewish-owned shops were broken into and vandalized. The name, Kristallnacht, or Night of the Broken Glass, is a reference to the many broken windows of synagogues, Jewish-owned businesses and homes that were destroyed by the plundering by the Nazis. Jewish cemeteries, and schools were also destroyed, all under the watchful eye of police. In addition to the physical vandalism, at least 91 Jews were murdered in the streets during this violence.

Kristallnach was a turning point in world history. It solidified the Nazi anti-Jewish policy that would eventually lead to the Holocaust with the systemic, state-sponsored murder of millions of Jews.

The attack has been attributed to the retaliation following the assassination of a German official by 17-year old Herschel Grynszpan. Grynszpan, who was living in Paris, entered the German Embassy in Paris and shot and killed a German official. He was protesting the harsh treatment his family suffered under the Nazi regime in Germany. A few weeks earlier, over 15,000 Polish Jews living in Germany had been rounded up and transported back to Poland. Grynszpan’s family had been in this group.

SS leader Reinhard Heydrich reported that over 7500 businesses, mostly Jewish-owned, and 267 synagogues were burned, some totally destroyed. In addition, over 90 Jews were killed in the rioting. Hermann Goring issued an edict stating that the Jews would be billed for any and all damages caused by the riots. Any insurance claims were confiscated by the government.

Although Kristallnacht produced shockwaves throughout the rest of the world, nothing was done to halt the Nazis from their continued attacks on Jews. The United States reacted by recalling its German ambassador.

Yitzhak Rabin (March 1, 1922 ~ November 4, 1995)

Yitzhak Rabin served two terms as Israeli Prime Minister. He was assassinated on November 4, 1995, during his second term.

He was a native Israeli, born in Jersualem in 1922. His parents were Russian Jews who had moved to what would become Israel during the Third Aliyah.

Rabin grew up in Tel Aviv, where his parents moved when he was very young. He married Leah Schlossberg in 1948. They had two children, Dalia and Yuval.

In 1941, Rabin joined the Palmach section of the Haganah. The Palmach was the unofficial Jewish Army during the British Mandate. Many of its members later formed the Israeli Defense Forces.

While in Palmach, Rabin participated in assisting the allied invasion of Lebanon, then held by Vichy French forces in the summer of 1941. In the fall of 1945, Rabin was responsible for planning and executing the liberation of Jewish immigrants from the Atlit detainee camp.

During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Rabin was in charge of IDF operations in Jerusalem. By 1949, Rabin was a member of the Israeli delegation to discuss peace talks with Egypt. He became the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces in 1964, under Prime Minister Levi Eshkol.

Rabin became Prime Minister of Israel in June 1974. One of his major achievements as Prime Minister was the Sinai Interim Agreement between Israel and Egypt, which was signed in September 1975. The Agreement was a first step towards the Camp David Accords of 1978 and the peace treaty with Egypt, which was ultimately signed in 1979.

Rabin was very involved in the Oslo Accords, which created the Palestine National Authority and granted it partial control over parts of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Because of his efforts in the Oslo Accords, Rabin, Yasser Arafat and Shimon Peres were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994.

The Oslo Accords, however, caused great friction in Israel. Many right wing Israelis viewed Rabin as a traitor for giving the PLO land. Yigal Amir, a radical right-wing Orthodox Jew, who had opposed the signing of the Oslo Accords, assassinated Rabin on November 4, 1995 during a mass rally in Tel Aviv. The Rally was in support of the Oslo Process. Ironically, shortly before he was shot, Rabin had been singing a song entitled “Song for Peace.”
Yitzhak Rabin was succeeded by Shimon Peres as Israeli Prime Minister.

The location of his assassination is now called Rabin Square. Each year on the anniversary of his death, there is a memorial for Rabin. In the Hebrew calendar, this event is held on the 12th of Cheshvan, which in the secular calendar year 2011, falls on November 9.

Lech Lecha / Genesis 12:1 ~ 17:27

Lech Lecha: Take Yourself, Go Forth

G~d tells Abram to leave his native land and travel "to the land that I will show you." He promises that Abram will become a great nation. So, Abram and his wife, Sarai, along with Lot, the son of Abram's brother, and other family members leave Haran and head off to a place unknown. They briefly settle in Shechem until a famine forces them to seek food in Egypt. Abram is concerned that when they reach Egypt, Pharaoh will want Sarai as his wife and will kill Abram, so Abram tells her to say they are brother and sister. Pharaoh is, indeed, taken by Sarai's beauty, and as Abram predicted, think that she is Abram's sister. She was taken to Pharaoh. Ultimately, Sarai is returned to Abram, and Pharaoh provides Abram with great wealth, but forces Abram and his entourage to leave the country. They travel to Canaan.

This story is not about unethical practices, but rather emphasizes the way peoples on the fringe of society succeed. We will later seen a similar story in which Abram and Sarai, then called Abraham and Sarah, again refer to themselves as brother and sister in an effort to protect themselves.

After leaving Egypt, Abram and his nephew, Lot, part ways. They had a dispute about their herds, because the land where they settled could not support the all their animals. They parted amicably, with Lot heading towards Sodom and Gomorrah, where the people were "wicked, hardened sinners."

There are other peoples living in the land. Four kings battle against five kings, and in the battle, Lot and his family are captured. Abram learns of Lot's capture and gathers 318 men from his group and rescue Lot and his family. This is the only Biblical reference to Abram as being a man of war. He is generally depicted as a peaceful person.

Abram and Sarai have no children. Sarai gives her maidservant, Hagar, to Abram in order that he may have a son. Hagar gives birth to Ishmael. Sarai becomes jealous of Hagar and Hagar leaves with her son. Through an angel, G~d tells Hagar that her son will become a great nation.

In their old age, Abram and Sarai learn that they will become parents. G~d changes their names to Abraham (meaning the "father of a multitude") and Sarah ("princess"). Abraham is instructed to perform the mitzvah of the bris milah, or circumcision, as a sign of the covenant between G~d and Abraham and his descendants. Upon hearing that he will have a son in his advanced age, he laughs. G~d tells him, nonetheless, that Sarah will bear a son who shall be named Isaac.

Abraham then age 99, follows G~d instructions, and circumcises himself, his son Ishmael and all the males in his household.

In the secular year of 2011, Lech Lecha falls on November 5, 2011.