Rosh Chodesh Tov!!! Today we begin the new month of Cheshvan also known as Marcheshvan. The word “Mar” in Hebrew means bitter. This is attributed to two factors; one, it’s a month bereft of any special occasions. Every other month in the Jewish calendar has something to celebrate or mourn. Even the month of Av in which we mourn the destructions of our two Temples is not considered bitter because it gives us time to introspect and hope. Second, the month of Cheshvan is the beginning of fall leading into winter. The days get shorter and darker, the leaves in the trees begin to fall and the world starts looking less colorful.
But every End brings in itself a new beginning. So this month should be used for nurturing. H”S is giving us the time so we can use it for productivity.
It is now that we gather the seeds from the holidays of the month of Tishrei, plant them, and carefully water them through the winter months and B”H, with G-d’s help we will be able to reap the bounty in spring.
Some excerpts taken from “The Bitter Month” by Rabbi Ari Goldwag
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