A Debt Due

The month of Tishrei, filled with Yamim Tovim, has passed, and we are now beginning the month of Cheshvan, which has none. Why doesn’t Cheshvan have any Yamim Tovim? Isn’t this a sort of letdown after such a spiritually packed month?

Some explain this is why we call the month Mar Cheshvan. Mar, in Aramaic, means Mister or Master, and we are trying to boost Cheshvan’s stature, since it lacks Yamim Tovim. Another explanation is that mar means bitter, which is fitting for a month during which the mabul (Great Flood) occurred, destroying the world. Additionally, Yeravam ben Nevat, the first king of the Ten Tribes, created a fake Yom Tov in this month as part of his plot to separate the Ten Tribes from the Kingdom of Yehudah — essentially an avodah zarah festival, which contributed to their eventual destruction. These tragedies, along with the coming of winter with its long dark nights and cold weather, leave a bitter taste. Is there anything to look forward to in this month?

Yes, there is. Let us explain.

The Navi uses a different name for this month: Bul (the name “Cheshvan” came after Klal Yisrael returned from galut Bavel). What is Bul? Midrash Tanchuma (Noach 11) gives several explanations. One is that the ground becomes imprinted and cracked (bul) from the pounding rains that begin during this time. (Bul also means stamp in Hebrew; ancient seals were called bullah, impressed into clay or wax.)

Another explanation is that it used to rain for 40 days every year beginning in Bul/Cheshvan — a zecher (remembrance) of the mabul, which lasted 40 days. When Shlomo HaMelech built the Beit HaMikdash, which was completed in Bul/Cheshvan, he prayed that these rains should stop. Cheshvan was specifically chosen for these 40 days. The Yalkut Shimoni (Melachim 184) explains that mabul is a play on ma-bul — the month of Bul minus the letter mem, whose numerical value is 40. That “mem” represented the 40 days of rain that continued each year, and Shlomo prayed to end it. We will return to this shortly.

Even though Shlomo completed the Beit HaMikdash in Bul/Cheshvan, he delayed the inauguration until the following Tishrei. Klal Yisrael couldn’t understand why he was waiting. Was there something wrong with the king himself? Perhaps he was unworthy? They did not realize that Hashem had instructed him to wait until Tishrei, the month Avraham Avinu was born. Only when they saw the fire descend from Heaven onto the mizbei’ach, consuming their korbanot, did they realize his decision was correct.

A similar episode had occurred earlier. The Mishkan was completed in Kislev, but Moshe Rabbeinu waited until Nisan to inaugurate it, as that was the month Yitzchak Avinu was born. Kislev complained to Hashem, “It’s not fair! I lost a major Yom Tov!” Hashem replied: “You will be repaid.” That repayment came through the miracle of Chanukah, a new form of chanukat haBayit.

Shlomo knew this. He knew Cheshvan would also be repaid. Indeed, Cheshvan complained, and Hashem promised that one day, it too would be rewarded.

So we see: a debt is due to Cheshvan.

Has Cheshvan been repaid yet? We don’t have anything close to Chanukah in this month. What will the payment be? It took over a thousand years from the Mishkan to Chanukah. It’s been nearly 2,900 years since the First Beit HaMikdash was completed. We are still waiting for that debt to be paid.

Why did Shlomo want the 40 days of rain to stop? Were they so damaging?

Perhaps we can explain: we don’t want a zecher of the mabul. The word mabul means to mix up and uproot — which is exactly what happened then. As destructive as it was, it showed that Hashem is the only true power: He destroyed the world, yet saved Noach.

Dovid HaMelech says in Tehillim 29, Hashem la’mabul yashav. Rashi explains that during the mabul, it was clear Hashem alone had power. Later, when Hashem gave the Torah, the entire world shook. The nations ran to Bilam, asking, “Is Hashem bringing another mabul? A mabul of fire?” Bilam answered, “No, Hashem is giving the Torah to Klal Yisrael.” The nations responded, Hashem yevarech et amo ba’shalom — “May Hashem bless His nation with peace.”

In other words, when the world shakes, there are two explanations: a mabul or matan Torah. Both are revelations of Hashem’s supreme power: He chooses whom to destroy and whom to save. When mankind is so corrupt that even minor theft is permitted — as it was before the mabul (and perhaps in some liberal policies today?) — Hashem reveals His might through destruction. But when we are worthy of the Beit HaMikdash, and His Shechinah dwells among us, then we don’t need reminders of punishment. We experience His kedushah directly.

Anyone who wanted to see Hashem could go to the Beit HaMikdash, and be overwhelmed by the holiness that permeated Yerushalayim. The closer one came, the clearer it became. The Beit HaMikdash made awareness of Hashem tangible.

In summary: When we merit the return of the Beit HaMikdash, we will no longer need the reminder of the mabul to behave. We will feel Hashem’s presence in our lives. Even now, without the Beit HaMikdash, we strive to make a kiddush Hashem, spreading kedushah through Torah and

We rejoice with the return of 20 living hostages from Gaza. Many of them reported sensing Hashem’s warmth and presence during their darkest moments — a deep, personal connection when no other protection remained.

May we be zocheh this Cheshvan to see that ancient debt repaid — with a miracle even greater than Chanukah. May we be zocheh to welcome Mashiach and feel Hashem’s presence once more among us, speedily in our days.

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R’ Dovi Chaitovsky and his family have the zechut to live in Eretz Yisrael, where he dedicates himself to Torah learning and teaching in Yerushalayim Ir HaKodesh. His divrei Torah often draw from the shiurim of Rav Yisrael Altusky, shlit”a, Yeshivas Torah Ore, Yerushalayim which can be heard at www.kolhalashon.com.