The first day of the month of Shvat has arrived. In the Tanach, it is called the “eleventh month” because the counting of months begins from Nisan. However, if counted from the holiday of Rosh Hashanah and the month of Tishrei, then Shvat is the fifth month.
The new moon of Shvat lasts only one day, as the preceding month of Tevet is always incomplete. Accordingly, the month of Shvat is always full and lasts thirty days.
Shvat corresponds to the constellation Aquarius (in Hebrew “dli” – “bucket”). The Torah states (Bamidbar, 24): “His [Israel’s] buckets shall be full of water…”.
Since by the month of Shvat in Eretz Yisrael, most of the rains have usually fallen, the reservoirs are full of water at this time; therefore, water does not have to be drawn from the depths of wells—the buckets come up full anyway.
The month of Shvat is marked by many memorable events in Jewish history: On the day of “Rosh Chodesh Shvat,” Moshe began reciting the book of “Devarim” (Deuteronomy) to the people. In this same month, one of the “minor Purims” – Purim of Saragossa – is celebrated, commemorating the miraculous salvation from danger that threatened the Jews of this Spanish city in 1420.
The tenth day of the month of Shvat is observed by Chabad Jews as the Birthday of Our Generation, for, as the sages teach, a generation is born when its leader changes. Precisely on 10 Shvat, 1950, the Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe passed from this material world, and exactly one year later, his son-in-law, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, accepted the title of Leader of Our Generation, becoming the Seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe on 10 Shvat, 1951.
An important day of the month is 15 Shvat (Tu B’Shvat) – the New Year for Trees. On this day, tradition holds that trees begin to drink water after their winter dormancy, and from this day, the count of years for tithing fruit crops begins.
The 22nd day of the month of Shvat marks the yahrzeit of the righteous Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, the wife of the Seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson. On this day, numerous women’s gatherings, kinusim, and other special events are held.
