Kislev: History, Holidays, and Customs

In "Kislev: History, Holidays, and Customs," Rachel Adlerstone examines how a particular month in the ancient Near Eastern calendar evolved into a focal point for narratives shared in diverse Jewish settings, from synagogues and kitchens to public squares and American homes. This cultural history traces Kislev's trajectory across historical periods, beginning with the month’s nomenclature and calendrical placement before delving into Hellenistic Judea. The book explores the pressures, alliances, conflicts, and political ambitions that characterized the Maccabean revolt, offering a nuanced perspective that avoids oversimplifying a complex historical era into contemporary slogans. It then distinguishes between ancient historical reconstructions and subsequent ritual traditions, analyzing how the Books of Maccabees recount revolt and rededication, the Al HaNissim liturgy frames divine deliverance, and the Babylonian Talmud preserves the oil miracle, without conflating these distinct sources or reducing religious memory to political history.

The book’s subsequent chapters detail the evolution of customs associated with Kislev, including lamps, blessings, synagogue additions, foods, games, songs, charitable giving, and gifts, tracking these practices through various migrations and shifts in material culture. Specific customs are situated within Sephardic, Ashkenazi, Mizrahi, or regional contexts when historical evidence allows. Sections dedicated to American practices investigate phenomena such as electric window displays, the integration of Hanukkah into school calendars, its presence in interfaith neighborhoods, its commercialization, and public menorah lightings, identifying Chabad's role in sponsoring such public displays where relevant rather than attributing every public practice to a single origin.