Tevet: A Month of Hidden Light, History, and Hope

- The month of Tevet is the fourth month on the Jewish calendar, if the months are counted from Creation, and the tenth month according to the Torah's count, which begins with the Egyptian exodus.

- The month of Tevet is mentioned only once in the Bible, in the Book of Esther: "And Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, to his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tevet, in the seventh year of his reign."

- Like all the months on the Jewish calendar, the name Tevet is Babylonian in origin and became prevalent after the Jews returned to Israel from Babylon in the Second Temple period. In Assyrian, this month was called "Tebetu" which means to sink or become submerged in mud, since rainfall increases at this time of year and the roads become muddy.

- The Gemara states that during the month of Tevet, and the subsequent months of Shevat and Adar, the sun travels through the desert so as not to embarrass the seedlings.

- The Midrash explains that the word Tevet alludes to the Hebrew word for goodness (tova), since Hadassah (also known as Esther) was taken to King Ahasuerus in the month of Tevet, which set in motion a series of events that culminated in good things for the Jewish people and the annulment of Haman's decree.

- The Midrash also reflects on another positive thing that happened to the Jews in this month, namely the deaths of the frightful kings Sichon and Og. 

- Others explain that the word "Tevet" derives from the word for improvement (hatava) since the first day of Tevet falls during Chanukah, and the entire month is consequently illuminated by the light of the candles.

- The lunar month of Tevet is always only 29 days long (as opposed to 30). Some explain that the Hebrew letters for 29 (kaf tet) allude to the acronym for "all good" (kol tuv).

- In the time of Noach, the floodwaters stopped flooding the world in the month of Tevet. 

- In the month of Tevet, we mourn different calamities that have befallen the Jewish people. Some individuals fast on the eighth, ninth, and tenth days of Tevet to commemorate these tragedies, though a public fast is only observed on the tenth day of Tevet.

- The fast observed on the eighth of Tevet commemorates the day when the Torah was translated into Greek by order of King Ptolemy. Our Sages qualify that this day was as difficult for the Jewish people as the day when the golden calf was made, since the Jews drew closer to the gentiles when they learned their language and were influenced by their behavior.

- On the ninth of Tevet, Ezra the Scribe and Nechemiah, son of Chichaliah, passed away. These great leaders had brought the Jewish people back to Israel from Babylon after the building of the Second Temple, and there was nobody to fill their shoes.

- On the tenth of Tevet, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, laid siege to Jerusalem and began the blockade that ultimately led to the destruction of Jerusalem. For this reason, a public fast day is observed on this day.

The Zodiac Sign of the Month

- The zodiac sign of Tevet is the Capricorn (goat) since this is the season when young goats go out to graze in the fields. After the rains have fallen and the ground is covered in fresh grass, shepherds take their flocks to graze in the field.

- The Midrash Rabbah explains that this month's zodiac sign alludes to Yaakov, about whom it is said: "And the skins of the young goats."

Zodiac sign of Aquarius

The Month of Tevet in Hassidism

The Rambam (in the Laws of Fasts) explains that fast days seek to awaken our hearts and open the path of repentance, since reflecting on our evil deeds and the deeds of our ancestors will prompt us to improve.

The Rambam explains that on the tenth day of Tevet (which is observed as a public fast day), the king of Babylon laid siege to Jerusalem, bringing it under blockade and distress. The siege is described at length by the prophets, and it ultimately led to the destruction of the Temple and the Babylonian exile. In the Book of Yechezkel, we are told that Hashem commanded Yechezkel to record this day as a day of remembrance, which underscores the day's importance.  In fact, based on this, some halachic authorities rule that the tenth of Tevet should be observed as a fast day even if it falls on Shabbat on account of its severity (like Yom Kippur), which is not the commonly accepted practice on fast days.

It is instructive to consider why the tenth of Tevet is observed as a fast day, given that the Temple was destroyed and the exile began on other dates, which are commemorated by other fast days. Why is the tenth of Tevet more severe than the fast days that mark the destruction of the Temple, if it merely marks the beginning of the siege? After all, Jerusalem remained intact, and the Temple service was performed as usual, for the duration of the siege!  Why is the fast that commemorates the onset of the siege treated with such stringency?

This precedent demonstrates an important principle. The beginning is especially significant, even if it seems to be small or trivial.  The first step marks the path forward and determines what comes next. Accordingly, we must not dismiss small phenomena that seem unimportant to us. Ultimately, they can lead to the most serious consequences.

This concept is deeply symbolic and also has practical repercussions for our daily lives. Some people dismiss minor details of Torah law or mitzvot and, at times, allow themselves to cut corners in order to "gain" a greater mitzvah. Our Sages' approach to the tenth of Tevet demonstrates that this is a colossal mistake, engineered by the evil inclination. We must not dismiss things that seem to be trivial. Our Sages teach us: "Today it tells him to do this, and tomorrow it tells him to do that, until it finally tells him to worship idols, and he goes and does so." As the Mishnah states: "One transgression leads to another."

The converse is also true. When a Jew brings another Jew closer to Torah, even with regard to something minor and with a loving smile, he paves the way for him to come closer to Hashem, and ultimately return to complete observance. One mitzvah leads to another, and every small beginning can herald a great and deeply significant spiritual outcome.