Kiss My Lev
On the month of Kislev, following your heart, and dreams.
Hello Shabbaters! (That’s terrible, I don’t like that one bit. We’ll try that again next week…)
It’s the new Hebrew month of Kislev! My favorite interpretation of this month: “kis” means pocket, and “lev” means heart, so you get a nice pocket o’ the heart. Aka you should focus on what matters most deep down in your heart these next few weeks.
Not sure where to start? Kislev is also known as the month of dreams. Maybe start there. Unless your dreams involve all your teeth falling out and/or you’re attempting to murder your high school gym teacher. Damn!
The month is all about light at a time of the year when we need it most. When Jews are in a heavy slumber, our souls ascend to a higher world and “see the light.” When we strike a match for eight nights on Hanukkah, or make someone else do it because you’re afraid of fire like me, we are bringing light into dark places, and sharing that light with the world. In Hebrew, words share similar root letters, therefore similar meanings, and the letters that make up Kislev are the same letters in the words "kesel, kisla" (hope, positiveness). So light ‘em up, up, up.
What is the pocket of your heart holding this month? What are you keeping in the dark that could use some light?
I love when you answer these questions! Feel free to write in the comments, or if you prefer to be anonymous, you can always email or message me and I’d love to share your answer.
I’m going to occasionally share some Shabbat-related articles I find interesting, starting with…
Chabad, Hamas and bagels in Doha: My Qatar Shabbat experience
Josh Glancy, The Jewish Chronicle
Jewish World Cup correspondent craves challah in Doha and receives challah and bagels from who else but smiling Lubavitchers.
“Eating fresh bagels that had been cooked in Qatar Airways ovens felt miraculous to me. Was this the greatest Jewish baking triumph in the Middle East since Hebrew slaves decided to skedaddle from Egypt?”
Josh’s craving for home while being away is all too familiar. Just before I wrote this, I was packing for a weekend trip with friends and asked one (of the Shabbuddies! Shoutout!), “What are we doing about Shabbat candles?” I’m not going so far and foreign as Doha, but as I’m on my journey to “do Jewish” as they say, this preparation and longing becomes more commonplace.
What’s also relatable is him deciding if he should cover or proudly display his chai necklace. I never cover but only proudly display. Yet I know Jews differ on this, out of fear. At least these strange yet beautiful times of freshly baked challah in Doha give us the change to enjoy light in the darkness.
May this Shabbat bring you light and a good night’s sleep!
Interesting about the pocket as the symbolic container - I love when this happens, as it often does - I just wrote a poem where a demon someone is haunted by which drives their behavior is carried around in the threadbare pockets of their filthy trench coat so they need to lose the coat and get some new and cleaner pockets. For me, because the poem is about someone I love and I realize now because of this week’s Shabbat Drop, though it is difficult, I need to lighten up on how I view forgiveness (a facade that entraps us forever - I know dark right!) - so just lighten up girl, life is shorter than you even think.
I want to give some light some family stuff going on :)