The month of Cheshvan, bitterness or sweetness?
Chodesh Cheshvan
Today at sunset begins the first day of the Hebrew Month "Cheshvan", it is the second month of the year counting from the month of Tishrei, and the eighth month counting from Nisan.
In the Scriptures it is called Bul, as the verse states in 1Kings 6:38 "and in the eleventh year in the month of bul which is the eighth month, the house (Temple) is finished.
The great sage Rashi, comments that they called it bul, because in this month the grass withers (balé) in the fields and the grain for domestic cattle is mixed (bolelim).
The Radak (Rabbi David Kimji) relates the term Yebul with production, since during this month the plowing and sowing begins in the Land of Israel.
Some sages explain that bul derives from the word "mabul" (flood) since in this month the abundant rains begin in Israel.
The Midrash indicates that an abundance of rains was decreed for the month of Cheshvan, because the flood began in the month of Noah.
However, the accepted name for this month is Cheshvan, because that was what the Jews used when they returned from Babylon.
The month is also called "Mar-Cheshvan" for two reasons:
Mar in Hebrew means bitter and denotes the fact that this month does not contain Holidays or days of joy, on the contrary, many tribulations and sufferings befell our people in this month.
The second reason is more essential, is that sea also means "a drop of water", as expressed in the verse in (Isaiah 40:15) "The nations are like a drop from a bucket" and the month is blessed with abundant rains.
(Excerpts from Sefer Hatodá, Chodesh Cheshvan)
And although the month is also called "Mar Cheshvan" (Bitter, because we do not have the joy of the festivities) more we always have the sweetness of our Torah, and even more in this month, in which we are always starting anew. reading the Torah!
Chodesh Tov! May we have a shower of blessings!
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