Kislev or Chislev (Hebrew: כִּסְלֵו‎, Standard Kīslev Tiberian Kīslēw),[1] also 'Chisleu' in the King James (authorized English) Bible, is the third month of the civil year and the ninth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. In the Babylonian calendar its name was Araḫ Kislimu.

Kislev
Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights,
begins on the 25th of Kislev.
Native nameכִּסְלֵו (Hebrew)
CalendarHebrew calendar
Month number9
Number of days29 or 30
SeasonAutumn (Northern Hemisphere)
Gregorian equivalentNovember–December
Significant daysHanukkah
Tevet →

In a regular (kesidran) year Kislev has 30 days, but because of the Rosh Hashanah postponement rules, in some years it can lose a day to make the year a "short" (chaser) year. Kislev is a month which occurs in November–December on the Gregorian calendar and is sometimes known as the month of dreams. The name of the month derives from Akkadian kislimu. But some popular etymologies connect it to the Hebrew root K-S-L as in the words "kesel, kisla" (hope, positiveness) or "ksil" (Orion, a constellation that shines especially in this month) because of the expectation and hope for rains.

In Jewish Rabbinic literature, the month of Kislev is believed to correspond to the Tribe of Benjamin.[2]

Holidays

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25 Kislev – 2 Tevet Hanukkah – ends 3 Tevet if Kislev is short

In Jewish history and tradition

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References in fiction

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Chislev". Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary. The Free Dictionary (Farlex). 1913. Retrieved 2011-02-07.
  2. ^ "Rosh Chodesh Kislev • Torah.org". torah.org. March 2016.
  3. ^ a b Hamodia. Nov/28/12. p. D47.
  4. ^ "Now the fifteenth day of the month Kislev, in the hundred forty and fifth year, they set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities of Judah on every side." (1 Maccabees 1:54)
  5. ^ Megillat Ta'anit 29
  6. ^ "Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice upon the idol altar, which was upon the altar of God." (1 Maccabees 1:59)
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