Kislev

Kislev (also Chisleu or Casleu ) (Hebrew: כִּסְלֵו, Standard Kislev Tiberian Kislēw ; from Akkadian kislimu) is the third month of the civil year and the ninth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is an autumn month of 30 days, except in "deficient" years, when it has 29 days (see Hebrew calendar: Modern calendar). Kislev usually occurs in November–December on the Gregorian calendar.

[edit] This Month in Jewish History

5 Kislev - (1631) - Death of Maharsha

The 5th of Kislev is the yahrtzeit (date of the death) of Rabbi "Shemuel Eliezer Eidel's (1555-1631), known by the acronym "Maharsha". Rabbi Shmuel authored a highly regarded and widely used commentary on the Talmud and its primary commentaries, Rashi and Tosfot.

9 Kislev - (1773; 1827) - Birth & Death of R. Dovber of Lubavitch

Kislev 9 is both the birthday and day of death of Rabbi DovBer of Lubavitch, son of and successor to the founder of Chabad Chassidism, Rabbi Schneur Zalman·of Liadi.

13 Kislev - (475 CE) - Death of Ravina II; Talmud completed

In the first decades of the 5th century, Rav Ashi (d. 427) and Ravina I (d. 421) led a group of the Amoraim (Talmudic sages) in the massive undertaking of compiling the Babylonian Talmud -- collecting and editing the discussions, debates and rulings of hundreds of scholars and sages which had taken place in the more than 200 years since the compilation of the Mishnah by Rabbi Judah HaNasi in 189. The last of these editors and compilers was Ravina II, who died on the 13th of Kislev of the year 4235 from creation (475 CE); after Ravina II, no further additions were make to the Talmud, with the exception of the minimal editing undertaken by the Rabbanan Savura'i (476-560). This date thus marks the point at which the Talmud was "closed" and became the basis for all further exegesis of Torah law.

18 Kislev - (1237) - Death of R. Abraham Maimuni

Rabbi Abraham Maimuni HaNagid (also called "Rabbi Avraham ben HaRambam") was the only son of Maimonides (the famed Talmudist, codifier of Jewish Law, philosopher, physician and statesmen, Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, 1135-1204). Born in 1185, Rabbi Abraham succeeded his father as the leader of the Jewish community in Fostat (old Cairo), Egypt, at the tender age of 19. He wrote many responsa and commentaries explaining and defending his father's writings and Halachic rulings. Rabbi Abraham died on the 18th of Kislev of the year 4998 from creation (1237).

18 Kislev - (1811) - Death of R. Baruch Mezhibuzher

the son of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov's daughter, Adel, and her husband, Rabbi Yechiel Ashkenazi. He was born in 1753 in Mezhibuz, the town from which his illustrious grandfather led the Chassidic Movement. He was one of the pre-eminent Rebbes (Chassidic masters) in the 3rd generation of Chassidism, and had thousands of disciples and followers.

19 Kislev - (1772) - Death of Maggid

Rabbi DovBer, known as "The Maggid of Mezeritch", was the disciple of, and successor to, the founder of Chassidism, Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov. Rabbi DovBer led the Chassidic movement from 1761 until his death on Kislev 19, 1772.

19 Kislev- (1798) - Release of the Alter Rebbe from Prison

Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder and first Rebbe of Chabad was released from Russian prison of this day. This date is celebrated as the New Year of Hasidism by Chabad Chasidim..

20 Kislev - (347 BCE) - Ezra's address

Ezra, head of the Sanhedrin and the leader of the Jewish people at the time of the building of the Second Temple, made an historic address to a three-day assemblage of Jews in Jerusalem, exhorting them to adhere to the teachings of the Torah and to dissolve their interfaith marriages (the Jewish people were on the verge of complete assimilation at the time, following their 70-year exile in Babylonia).

21 Kislev - (1944) - Satmar Rebbe Rescued

The Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum (1887-1979), was rescued from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, along with 1,368 other Jews, through the efforts of Rudulf Kastner, head of the Zionist rescue operation in Hungary (an earlier transport of 1,686 Jews had been rescued on Av 29). The Satmar community celebrates the 21st of Kislev as a day of thanksgiving.

25 Kislev - (1312 BCE) - Mishkan completed

The vessels, tapestries, wall sections and other components of the Mishkan (the portable sanctuary or "Tabernacle" built under Moses' direction to house the Divine Presence during the Israelites' journeys through the desert) were completed on the 25th of Kislev in the year 2449 from creation (1312 BCE). The Mishkan was not assembled, however, until 3 months later, when, beginning on Adar 25 of that year, it was erected and taken down daily for a 7-day "training" period prior to its dedication on the 1st of Nissan. Our Sages tell us that the day of Kislev 25 was compensated 12 centuries later, when the Maccabees dedicated the Holy Temple on Kislev 25, 3622 (139 BCE).

25 Kislev - (165 BCE) - Chanukah Miracle
25 Kislev - (1904) - R. Chizkiah Medini

Kislev 25 is the yahrtzeit (date of death) of Rabbi Chaim Chizkiah Medini (1832-1904), author of the Halachic encyclopedia Sdei Chemed.

26 Kislev - (1198) - Raavad's Death

Rabbi Avraham ben David of Posquieres (Provence), known by the acronym "The_Raavad|Raavad]]", wrote the famed hagaot critical notations to Maimonides' Mishneh Torah. Born approximately 1120, he died on the 26th of kislev of the year 4959 from creation (1198).

27 Kislev - (2105 BCE) - Flood rains cease

The forty days and nights of rainfall which covered the face of earth with water in Noah's time ended on Kislev 27 of the year 1656 from creation (2105 BCE. The flood itself lasted a full year, as related in Genesis 6-8).

27 Kislev - (1817) - Death of R. Chaim of Tchernovitz

Rabbi Chaim of Tchernovitz (1760-1817) was a disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch and of Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov. He authored Be'er Mayim Chayim ("Well of Living Waters"), a commentary on Torah. Rabbi Chaim died on the 3rd day of Chanukah.