The Bitter Month of Cheshvan

This year, the secular month of November corresponds exactly with the Hebrew month of Cheshvan. Cheshvan happens to be the real name of the month, but it is traditionally referred to as “Marcheshvan”, the particle “mar” meaning “bitter”. Why bitter? Because there are no Jewish holidays during that month. Taking in consideration that we just had a marathon of Jewish holidays last month, why be bitter? We should feel relieved!

We must understand that a Jewish holiday has a huge impact on our souls. When we come to pray during a holy day, we are aligned with powerful energy that brings not only blessings but also has the power to elevate our souls. This is the true reason it is called “mar”, bitter: this month, we don’t have the special gift of a holy day with all the blessings that come with it.

If we don’t have a gift of a holy day, then it is up to us to transform this month! We need to transform the bitterness into sweetness. If we do so, then every day can become a holy day. You see, during a Jewish holiday, we get blessings from above, this month, it is our turn: the blessings come below. This month, more than the other ones, we must elevate and bring blessings around us. If we decide to sweeten the world every day, not only do we remove bitterness, but we increase Light in the Universe in preparation of Chanukah. There are many ways to sweeten the world, here is a list but it is only a beginning: 

• being extra kind to people we know 
• being extra kind to people we don’t know.
• increase tzedaka
• donate food or clothes or time, or all three!
• random acts of kindness to people we don’t know
• truly listen to people we love
• truly listen to people we like less
• seeing the good in people
• seeing the good in the world
• meditate
• join a study group
• decide to study Torah, or Talmud, or a special topic of Jewish philosophy 
• being grateful

​This month, may you be blessed with all the sweetness and love the world can offer you, and may you share these blessings with the world!