Months of the Jewish Calendar
The months of the Jewish calendar were not always as we know them today. Join Rabbi David Sedley as he explores the Jewish months of the year, and some of the deeper meaning attributed to them by Jewish thinkers throughout the ages.
Months of the Jewish Calendar: The Foundation of Time – Tishrei, Cheshvan, Kislev
In this class we look at the historical background, spiritual meaning and agricultural importance of the autumn months, as well as an overview of how the calendar works:
1.Calendar Fundamentals
2.Tishrei – The Seventh Month That Starts the Year
3.Cheshvan – The Bitter Month
4.Kislev – The Month of Dreams and Miracles
Months of the Jewish Calendar: Winter’s Depths – Tevet, Shevat, Adar
Winter’s Depths – Tevet, Shevat, Adar
1.Tevet – The Month of Siege
2.Shevat – New Year of the Trees
3.Adar – The Month of Joy
Months of the Jewish Calendar: Spring’s Awakening – Nissan, Iyar, Sivan
Spring’s Awakening: Liberation, Counting, and Revelation
1.Nissan – The Month of Redemption
2.Iyar – The Month of Healing
3.Sivan – The Month of Revelation
Months of the Jewish Calendar: Summer: Destruction and Return – Tammuz, Av, Elul
Summer’s Completion: Crisis, Mourning, and Return
1.Tammuz – The Month of Breach
2.Av – The Month of Destruction
3.Elul – The Month of Return
Rabbi David Sedley lives in Jerusalem with his wife and six children. He was born and raised in New Zealand before coming to Israel in 1989. He left Israel temporarily (for eight years) to serve as a communal Rabbi in Scotland and England and returned to Israel in 2004. His latest book is "The Elephant of Deliberate Forgetfulness: and other unexpected interpretations of the weekly Torah reading". He has also translated Rabbeinu Yonah's commentary on Pirkei Avos and is the co-author of Sefiros: Spiritual Refinement Through Counting the Omer (both Judaica Press). Over the years Rabbi Sedley has worked as a journalist, a translator, a video director and in online reputation management. He also writes a weekly Torah blog on the Times of Israel.