Today we will share a thought on the month of Kislev, the month when the miracle of Hanukah took place, which is no coincidence.
But first, a little introduction on the names of the months, which were only introduced upon the return from the exile of the first Bet HaMikdash, from Bavel, as they entered the era of the second Bet HaMikdash.
Just like there is no name for the days of the week in our religion, ( we don’t have Sunday Monday Tuesday, we have Yom Rishon/ the first day, Yom Sheni/ the second day… counting toward Shabbat) similarly, we refer to the months by their order - the first month, the second etc, connecting back to Yetziat Mitzrayim which was the Rosh Hodashim/ the First of the months.
So why the change?
The Sefer Pri Sadik says that when the first Bet HaMikdash was around, the people were on a higher level, and each person, on their own, was able to sense what each month’s new approach was (the Hebrew for month is Hodesh, which is from the root hadash/ new).
After the first Bet HaMikdash was destroyed, and since then, we were no longer able to do that. Therefore, every month got a name which symbolizes the essence of that month.
With that introduction in mind, we can discuss the essence of the month of Kislev.
It says in Tehilim, chapter 78, pasuk 7,
וְיָשִׂימוּ בֵאלֹקים כִּסְלָם
They placed their Kislam/reliance and hope in God
וְלֹא יִשְׁכְּחוּ מַעַלְלֵי־אֵל וּמִצְוֺתָיו יִנְצֹרוּ
And they didn’t forget the activities of God and kept His Mitzvot.
The Hovot HaLevavot lists ten terms for reliance- Bitachon, Tikvah, Tochelet….etc. the highest one is called Kesel, which is the root of the word Kislev.
The Sefer Pri Sadik says that this is the avodah/service of the month of Kislev: to work on this high level of Bitachon called Kesel.
What exactly does Kesel mean? The Yerushalmi says in Mesechet Pe’ah that,
אפילו בדברים שאתה כסיל בהם
Even in areas in which you are a k’sil/fool…
The word Kesel means a type of Bitachon where you realize that you are foolish in a particular area. You don’t know what you’re doing in that area.
An example of this is the story of Hanukah. A small group of people, novices, went to war against the large Greek army, world rulers.
But they relied on Hashem against all odds, in an area that they were totally foolish in.
Relying on Hashem when you realize that you know nothing, and you’re a fool, that’s the bitachon of the month of Kislev.
The Sefer Yismach Yisrael on Parashat Toldot adds that “fool” doesn’t necessarily refer to someone who is intellectually foolish. It can also refer to someone who has sinned, or has made many mistakes in his life; someone who doesn’t see how he can get out of his situation. But by relying on Hashem’s mercy and kindness, which are both endless, Hashem can take him out of that problem as well.
That’s what the Bitachon of the month of Kislev is.
Another interesting point about this word:
The Sefer Pri Sadik brings down that on Hanukah that in Eretz Yisrael, the Menorah is lit on the left side of the door, while the mezuzah is on the right.
He quotes a pasuk from Kohelet to explain why:
לֵב חָכָם לִימִינוֹ וְלֵב כְּסִיל לִשְׂמֹאלוֹ
The heart of the wise man is on the right side, and the heart of the fool is on the left side.
(As an aside, theres a cute story about this quote-
Once when Rabbi Yaakov Kaminetzsky went to see his cardiologist, the doctor was not able to find his heartbeat right away. Naturally, he was checking on the left.
In jest, Rabbi Yaakov Kaminetzsky said, “You’re not going to find my heart on the left side; My heart is on the right, as it says in Kohelet, “The heart of the wise on the right.” )
What does it mean that the “heart of the wise is on the right?
Rashi explains that simply, it means that (generally) the right hand is used more easily, whereas the left hand isn’t. The wise man uses his heart, his sechel, more frequently to make decisions. He isn’t using his instincts or gut. He is using his heart, which is on his right side. Conversely, the fool doesn’t use his heart as he should.
Rav Sadok connects this Hanukah: Because the left side symbolizes the fool, we put the Menorah on the left, because the purpose of the miracle of Hanukah, and the light of Hanukah is to tell the person, “You might be a fool, but there’s hope for the fool. There is light for the fool.”
That is what the miracle of Hanukah is all about.
There is light there, even for the fool.
You can rely on Hashem and He will save you.