This week, we finally celebrated one of my favourite Jewish holidays – Rosh Hodesh Heshvan, the start of the Hebrew month of Heshvan, the only Hebrew month without any holidays in it, and a much-needed respite and return to routine following our busy fall holiday season. During the holiday of Sukkot, one of our common Hebrew greetings is “Moadim l’simcha,” meaning “times for joy,” and drawn from the festival liturgy. This greeting grounds our holiday time in its essence – in joy! In Israel today, some use the greeting, “Moadim L’Shigra,” “times for routine!” as a playful greeting for these early days of Heshvan.
THe month of Heshvan goes by another name, Marheshvan. One popular etymology explains that Heshvan is mar, bitter, because it is devoid of holidays and festivities, unlike every other month on our Jewish calendar. However, my teacher Rabbi Dalia Marx, explains that this etymology, while fun, is inaccurate, the name of the month actually comes from either an Akkadian phrase meaning “eighth month,” or from the Persian eighth month, Markashan. And even so, perhaps routine and the day-to-day need not be bitter. “While in fact Marheshvan does symbolize the yoke of routine, there is blessing and goodness to be found in everyday life. During Marheshvan, we can celebrate the blessing of routine and the minor celebrations and gifts of daily life.”
Israeli Reform rabbi, Rabbi Maya Leibovich, offers us this prayer for the month of Heshvan:
May we know how to discern blessing even in the yoke of the mundane, joy even in simple moments, beauty even amidst everyday distress.
May we accept what life rains down on us as children find joy in rainfall.
May we be as numerous as the innumerable raindrops.
May we accept abundance so that we may be abundant.
Amen, so may it be God’s will.
