The Month of Kislev
BSD ROSH CHODESH KISLEV 5767 YERUSHALAYIM IH’K
The Shem MiShmuel brings a teaching based on the Sefer Hayitzira describing the month of Kislev with all its Kabalistic energies and tendencies.
Each month has a letter associated with it as well as a body function, a body part and a zodiac sign. Each month also has a tribe and a corresponding color from the stone of the Choshen. These elements all describe different aspects of the month, explain what specific Avoda is easier during the month and clarify the reasons for certain tendencies of people born in the month, as well as the tendencies of all people as the month enfolds.
Kislev was formed with the Hebrew letter Samech, with the element of sleep, is related to the stomach and has the constellation called Keshet, the bow and arrow.
Prayer is also called a bow and arrow, as Yaakov Avinu says in Parshat Vayechi, “I conquered the Land from the Emori with my sword and my bow”. Unkelos translates this as, “I conquered…with my wisdom and prayer.”
The Avnei Nezer remarks that the force of the arrow in the bow is enhanced, strengthened and empowered in direct proportion to the tension of the archer pulling back on the bow. The more force used to pull the bow taut, the farther the arrow will fly. So too, the more the heart contracts in intensity and in feeling, until the heart cannot contain its thoughts any longer and they burst forth, then, the prayer truly ascends.
Extending this thought helps us to understand the prayer of Chana, mother of Shmuel Hanavi. When Eli HaKohein found Chana murmuring silently to herself, flushed and agitated, he accused her of drinking too much. She responded with the words, “Lo Adoni, Isha Keshat Ruach Anochi”- “No my master, (I am not drunk, rather) I am of difficult spirit and have poured my spirit before Hashem”. The Gemara learns out from this conversation many of the laws of Tefilla, including the fact that our Amida is silent. Read more
