Guide to the Jewish Year

kislev

כִּסְלֵו

Israeli: ' marks a reduced vowel that Israeli speech drops (b'rachah); when the vowel is pronounced it is written e (lefanecha). - separates syllables that would otherwise run together.

How to read the transliterations

כִּסְלֵו

KISLEV

4th–5th of December

149 At Ma'ariv, on the evening of the 4th of December, in typical years, recitation of וְתֵן טַל וּמָטָר לִבְרָכָה starts within the Amida's ninth blessing. When a civil leap year is approaching, recitation of וְתֵן טַל וּמָטָר לִבְרָכָה starts a day afterward, on the night of the 5th of December [שו"ע או"ח, קיו: א].

150 Should one omit וְתֵן טַל וּמָטָר לִבְרָכָה from its proper place yet notice before uttering God's name in the ninth blessing (מְבָרֵךְ הַשָּׁנִים), one should at once recite וְתֵן טַל וּמָטָר לִבְרָכָה and proceed with what remains of that blessing. Should one notice the omission once the blessing מְבָרֵךְ הַשָּׁנִים is finished, one should recite וְתֵן טַל וּמָטָר לִבְרָכָה ahead of the words כִּי אַתָּה שׁוֹמֵעַ in the sixteenth blessing (שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה). Should one notice the omission once the seventeenth blessing (רְצֵה) has begun, one must restart the Amida from the start of the ninth blessing (מְבָרֵךְ הַשָּׁנִים). Should one notice the omission once the Amida is finished, one must restart the Amida in full [שו"ע או"ח, קיו: ה].

151 When it is uncertain whether וְתֵן טַל וּמָטָר לִבְרָכָה was properly recited, the presumption runs thus: during the initial thirty days counted from December 4th (or 5th), one is to take it that וְתֵן טַל וּמָטָר לִבְרָכָה was forgotten. Past thirty days, one is to take it that וְתֵן טַל וּמָטָר לִבְרָכָה was recited.

חֲנֻכָּה

Ḥanukka (25th of Kislev to 2nd of Tevet)

152 During Ḥanukka, וְעַל הַנִּסִּים is inserted into the Amida at Ma'ariv, Shaḥarit and Minḥa, and likewise into Birkat HaMazon's second blessing. Should one omit וְעַל הַנִּסִּים, neither the Amida nor Birkat HaMazon is repeated [שו"ע או"ח, תרפב: א].

153 Kindling Ḥanukka lights within the synagogue is the custom, whether preceding or following Ma'ariv on every evening of Ḥanukka. The manner matches that used for kindling at home, as set forth below, save that those lights are to be set along the synagogue's southern wall.

154 Once Ma'ariv has ended, kindling of Ḥanukka lights takes place at home. Three blessings are recited on the opening night: (1) לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה, (2) שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים ("Who performed miracles") and (3) שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ (page 951). On the nights that follow, solely the opening pair of blessings is recited [שו"ע או"ח, תרעו: א]. As lights are added night by night, the newly added light is invariably set at the left. One kindles the newest candle first, then kindles the remaining lights from left to right.

155 These lights are to stay burning no less than half an hour past nightfall [שו"ע או"ח, תרעב: ב; משנ"ב, שם: ד]. If lighting was missed in that span, one may kindle any hour before daybreak. In that event one recites the fitting blessings while kindling, yet solely if other household members remain awake [שו"ע, שם; משנ"ב, שם: יא].

156 The prevalent custom is that every household member kindles separately, yet a household's head may kindle a single menora for the whole family [שו"ע ורמ"א או"ח, תרעא: ב].

157 Lighting Ḥanukka lights is obligatory upon women [שו"ע או"ח, תרעה: ג]. A woman may therefore kindle for herself, on her household's behalf, and on an adult male's behalf [משנ"ב, שם: ט].

158 The menora is usually kindled indoors, yet beside a window, so the lights may be seen by the public at large as well [שו"ע או"ח, תרעה: א].

159 Once kindling is done, the custom is to sing הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ and מָעוֹז צוּר (pages 953–955) [שו"ע או"ח, תרעו: ד].

160 Shaḥarit: Kindling the synagogue menora with no blessing, ahead of the start of prayers, is the custom. Weekday Shaḥarit is recited. וְעַל הַנִּסִּים is inserted into the Amida, as treated above. Once the Amida's Repetition is finished, Taḥanun is left out and the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur guides those assembled in reciting Full Hallel (page 777) [שו"ע או"ח, תרפג: א]. Half Kaddish comes next, with removing the Torah from the Ark (page 173).

161 Torah reading: pages 1170–1176. Three men are summoned [שו"ע או"ח, תרפד: א]. Ashrei and וּבָא לְצִיּוֹן are recited, yet לְמַנְצֵחַ is left out, and Full Kaddish is said by the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur. Return of the Torah to the Ark comes next, then the Daily Psalm, Psalm 30 (page 67), Mourner's Kaddish, Ein Kelohenu, Rabbis' Kaddish, Barekhu, Aleinu and Mourner's Kaddish.

שַׁבָּת חֲנֻכָּה

SHABBAT ḤANUKKA

162 Kindling of Ḥanukka lights at home precedes kindling the Shabbat candles. One must ensure that those lights, though kindled prior to sunset, will remain alight at least half an hour after dark [שו"ע או"ח, תרעט: א]. In the synagogue, Ḥanukka lights are kindled after Minḥa [משנ"ב, שם: ג].

163 Ma'ariv: as on Shabbat and Yom Tov. וְעַל הַנִּסִּים is inserted into the Amida (see law 152).

164 Shaḥarit: as on Shabbat and Yom Tov. Hallel follows the Amida's Repetition [שו"ע או"ח, תרפג: א]. A pair of Torah scrolls is removed from the Ark, or three should Shabbat coincide with Rosh Ḥodesh Tevet.

165 Torah Reading: For the portion of the week, seven men are summoned (usually