Rabbi Howard Morrison

On Friday and Shabbat, we transition from the month of Tishrei to the month of Heshvan. How awesome was the month of Tishrei with its full month of holy days! 

Heshvan is one of two months which is prefaced by a title. In the Summer, we had "Menachem Av," literally, the comforting month of Av, because the majority of the month comforted us after the first nine days. Who does not want to feel comfort after enduring loss? Heshvan, on the other hand, is prefaced by the word "Mar," which means "bitter," as in Maror, the bitter herbs consumed at the Pesach Seder. Why would this month be prefaced with a challenging term?

After having experienced a month full of commemoration and celebration, Heshvan offers nothing of the sort. As a result, this new month feels bitter and lacking after Tishrei. While the preface came to be a long time ago, the month of Heshvan is even more bitter in that nowadays we observe the anniversary of Kristallnact, November 9-10, as a sort of second Yom Hashoah on the calendar. 

In some of the ancient rabbinic literature, there became the traditions that Sarah the Matriarch died in Heshvan, and that the flood of Noah occurred in Heshvan, which accentuate the bitterness of the month. It is noteworthy that we read of the flood this year on the first day of Heshvan, and we are introduced to Sarah at the end of Parshat Noach and in Parshat Lech Lecha, which are read Shabbat morning and afternoon.

The bitterness of Heshvan looms even larger given the horrific events of the last thirteen months. Israel's wars on all sides, the continued concern for 101 hostages, and the surge of anti-Semitism around the world all accentuate the mood of Heshvan.

Perhaps one day soon, the preface of "Mar-bitter" will be decreased or even removed when a new kind of joy will enter the Jewish world. In the meantime,  the bitter Cheshvan is just one month, while most of the remaining months contain uplift and celebration. 

May we use the new month of Mar Heshvan as time to reflect and to pave the way toward better times for all.

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov,
Rabbi Howard Morrison