Kislev: Understanding the Third Month of the Hebrew Calendar

"Kislev: Understanding the Third Month of the Hebrew Calendar" by Rachel Adlerstone offers a comprehensive guide to this significant month. The book begins by addressing the dual numbering of Kislev as both the third and ninth month, using this apparent discrepancy to elucidate the interplay between biblical and rabbinic calendar systems. It explains Kislev's position within the autumn-to-winter seasonal cycle, detailing the reasons for its variable length of twenty-nine or thirty days and clarifying the function of Rosh Chodesh. The text also covers the Jewish practice of dates commencing at sundown. Diagrams are included to illustrate the relationship between lunar months and the solar year, making complex calendar concepts accessible without requiring prior knowledge.

The latter half of the book shifts from mechanical explanations to the lived experience of Kislev. It situates Hanukkah on the twenty-fifth of Kislev and explores other dates observed by specific communities. The book illustrates how prayer, study, family routines, and weather patterns contribute to the month's distinct character in Israel compared to North America. Sources are clearly labeled to differentiate between biblical passages, later rabbinic interpretations, historical evidence, and mystical readings. A dedicated chapter on Hanukkah distinguishes the oil miracle tradition from the military and political narratives found in the Books of Maccabees. Customs are presented with careful distinctions, identifying them as widespread, local, Sephardic, Ashkenazi, or specific to particular movements, rather than universal. The book includes charts, a glossary, and prompts for consulting a local calendar, providing a reliable initial resource for adults, families, educators, and those new to the Hebrew calendar.