Month of Heshvan

The month of Heshvan is also more commonly called Mar Heshvan,
as if to say the month feels bitter (Mar) because it has no festivities or holidays within it. Hassidim calls the month Ram Heshvan because Ram means elevated or high. In the mystical traditions, this month was left barren of holidays because it is being reserved for the opening ceremony of the third temple. Therefore, the soul does not feel like it is permanently seeing the world through dark sunglasses.

 In many ways the whole month is a month of No'ah, of sitting in a relaxed form. A month to dwell on all that has happened during the very full holidays month of Tishrei. Mar also means water (sea), we associate it with the month’s special connection with the rains since we start praying V’tein Tal U’matar, deliver dew and rain in the month of Heshvan; for this reason the soul can cope with the drudge of every day life.

Have a blessed month of Heshvan. May God provide us with just enough rain, not too much so it creates floods, and not too little so it creates drought; just enough so that we may enjoy its blessings. Amen.