Definition

Noun: * Heshvan: The second month of the civil year and the eighth month of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar. It typically falls in October and November of the Gregorian calendar. It is a month of 29 or 30 days.

Usage

• Heshvan is used to refer to a specific time period within the Jewish liturgical and agricultural cycle.
• It follows the month of Tishrei, which contains the major holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.
• Heshvan is notable for having no major Jewish holidays or fast days, which is sometimes referenced in cultural commentary.

Examples

• The construction of the First Temple was completed in the month of Heshvan.
• After the intense spiritual activity of Tishrei, Heshvan is often seen as a quiet, mundane month.
• The rainy season in the Land of Israel traditionally begins in Heshvan.

Advanced Usage

• Marcheshvan: This is the full, traditional name for the month. The prefix "Mar" can mean "bitter" or "drop" (as in a drop of water, referencing the start of rains), leading to occasional poetic or explanatory use of the full term.
• The month of Bul: In the Hebrew Bible (1 Kings 6:38), this month is referred to as "Bul," an older Canaanite name. This term is used in academic or historical contexts discussing the biblical calendar.

Variants and Related Words

• Marcheshvan (n): The full name for the month of Heshvan.
• Cheshvan: A common alternative spelling for Heshvan.

Synonyms

• Marcheshvan: The full name is a direct synonym.
• Bul: An ancient, biblical name for the same month; used in historical reference.

Notes on Different Meanings

• Heshvan has only one primary meaning as a specific month in the Jewish calendar. Any extended meanings are cultural or metaphorical, derived from its characteristic as a "hollow" month without festivals.
  • It can symbolically represent a return to ordinary, daily life after a period of high holiness and celebration.

Noun

1. the second month of the civil year; the eighth month of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar (in October and November)