The Hidden Meaning of Cheshvan: From Darkness to Renewal and Redemption

The zodiac sign associated with the Hebrew month of Cheshvan is Scorpio. In Sefer Yetzirah (The Book of Formation), the Sages also associate this month with the sense of smell and the intestines: “He made the letter Nun king over smell, Scorpio in the world, and Cheshvan in the year.”

The Sense of Smell

Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov, in his discussion of the month of Cheshvan in Bnei Yissaschar, offers a profound explanation of these connections. He notes that the sense of smell is conspicuously absent from the account of eating from the Tree of Knowledge. The tree is described as appealing to the eyes and desirable for food, but its fragrance is never mentioned.

According to the Bnei Yissaschar, the sense of smell remained untainted by the sin and is therefore associated with the future restoration of the world. This connection is reflected in the verse describing the Messiah: “And he shall be imbued with the spirit of the fear of Hashem” (Isaiah 11:3), which the Sages interpret in connection with the sense of smell.

The essence of smell is its ability to reveal what cannot yet be seen. A person can detect a scent from a distance and recognize something about a place or situation without being physically present. In this sense, smell symbolizes the ability to perceive what lies ahead.

In the Beit Hamikdash, the fragrant incense was so powerful that its aroma could be detected as far away as Jericho. Furthermore, the First Temple, built by King Solomon, was completed during the month of Bul, another name for Cheshvan. The Bnei Yissaschar therefore explains that the future Beit Hamikdash will also be built in Cheshvan, since the spiritual quality represented by the sense of smell remained unblemished.

The Bnei Yissaschar adds that the Hebrew word Akrav (scorpion) has the same numerical value as David Mashiach, establishing another connection between Scorpio and the future redemption. Our Sages also teach that redemption and a scorpion are among the things that show up when a person is not expecting them. Additionally, a scorpion never caused harm in the Beit Hamikdash.

From Destruction to Redemption

According to the Bnei Yissaschar, the association between Cheshvan and the intestines carries a message about Jewish unity. The intestines connect the body's internal systems, processing nourishment and helping distribute nutrients throughout the body. They therefore symbolize the interconnectedness of the Jewish people and the unity necessary for redemption. This also explains why Cheshvan has no holidays. The month is reserved, in a spiritual sense, for the future redemption.

And yet, Scorpio also carries a darker symbolism. The Bnei Yissaschar interprets the Hebrew word Akrav as Akar Bayit, meaning the uprooting of the House, alluding to the destruction of the two Temples.

This idea is also connected to the Hebrew letter Nun, which symbolizes falling. Our Sages explain that the letter Nun is omitted from the alphabetical sequence of Psalm 145, recited in Ashrei, because it represents downfall, as expressed in the verse, “Fallen, no more to rise, is the virgin of Israel” (Amos 5:2).

However, the missing Nun is alluded to in the following verse: “Hashem supports all who fall” (Psalms 145:14). Even within destruction, the seeds of redemption are already present. Hashem poured out His wrath upon wood and stone, sparing His people and setting in motion the process that would eventually lead to a more complete rebuilding.

The natural world during Cheshvan reflects this same pattern of decline preceding renewal. Cheshvan marks the beginning of the rainy season. Leaves wither and fall, vegetation changes, and the rain can make everyday life more difficult. Yet these very rains nourish the earth and allow new growth to emerge.

Beneath the soil, seeds begin to germinate during the cold, rainy months, although their growth may not become visible until spring. The Shem Mishmuel uses this natural process as an illustration of the renewal that can take place beneath the surface, even during periods that outwardly appear to be marked by decline.

Turning the Inspiration of Tishrei Into Lasting Change

The spiritual task of Cheshvan is to transform the inspiration of Tishrei into lasting habits. Following a month filled with prayer, reflection, and festivals, we enter a period composed primarily of ordinary weekdays.

The challenge is to carry the spiritual awakening of the High Holidays into everyday life through consistent, practical actions. This might mean establishing a regular Torah study session that we can realistically maintain, strengthening our concentration during one daily prayer, or setting aside a specific time to fulfill a personal commitment made during Tishrei.

Cheshvan teaches us to confront periods of decline without assuming that they signify failure. Just as seeds begin developing beneath the soil long before their growth becomes visible, difficult periods may contain the beginnings of meaningful transformation. This requires sensitivity to inner processes that are not immediately apparent, much like the sense of smell, which enables us to perceive something that remains hidden from sight.

The Bnei Yissaschar also emphasizes the importance of strengthening Jewish unity: “At the time of restoration, the essential thing is that the Jewish people should be united.” As he explains through the symbolism of the intestines, the different parts of the body must work together to sustain the whole.

Similarly, the spiritual restoration of the Jewish people depends upon cooperation, mutual responsibility, and a shared sense of purpose.

The zodiac sign of Scorpio thus symbolizes both the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash and its future rebuilding. On a personal level, it challenges us to identify what needs repair in our own lives and to replace what has been weakened or broken with something stronger and more enduring.

The deeper message of Cheshvan is that destruction need not be the end of the story. What appears to be a period of darkness or decline may, in fact, be the beginning of renewal.