Rosh Chodesh Kislev

Kislev is a month of miracles, light, and gratitude to Hashem. It's a special time to strengthen our emunah, increase our Torah learning, and turn to Hashem with heartfelt prayers.

The Power of Not Complaining

A segulah attributed to Rabbi Chaim Palacci ZT"L teaches that whoever merits to refrain from complaining or speaking negatively from Rosh Chodesh Kislev until Zot Hanukkah(the last night of Hanukkah), and instead focuses only on thanking Hashem, will merit to see a salvation and miracle that same year!

The Chofetz Chaim taught about the tremendous spiritual protection that comes from guarding our speech. He said that every word a Jew holds back builds a wall of protection around them. Not complaining isn't pretending life is easy. It's choosing not to let pain become your narrator. And sometimes, that restraint becomes the vessel through which Hashem brings a miracle.

Welcoming Kislev The Right Way

1. Light a candle in honor of Rabbi Meir Baal HaNess and ask for your hearts desires. It is good to pray to experience miracles and wonders during this month. ?️

2. Recite Nishmat Kol Chai, a beautiful and powerful prayer of praise and gratitude to Hashem, traditionally associated with bringing about miracles!

3.Have a special Rosh Chodesh meal. Eating a festive meal with bread in honor of Rosh Chodesh and reciting Birkat Hamazon afterward draws down blessings and abundance into the entire month ahead.

4.Read Bereshit chapters 32 & 33 (לב-לג). Reading these chapters is recommended as a segulah for success and protection.

5. Recite Tehillim chapters 107–120 (קז-קכ)

6. Recite Tikkun HaKlali. It is especially meaningful to say Tikkun HaKlali on Rosh Chodesh with the intention of purifying the soul.

7.Pray to Hashem in your own words. The gates of Heaven open on this day, making it an especially meaningful time to ask Hashem for everything you need. Speak to Him in your own words, and most importantly, let your prayers come from the depths of your heart. May we merit great salvations!

Remember!

1. Prayer Additions. We say Ya'aleh VeYavo in the Amidah, Birkat Hamazon, and Birkat Me'ein Shalosh.

Rosh Chodesh Kislev, and This Whole Month!

1. No Complaining! 

2. Focus on gratitude instead of complaining, especially from Rosh Chodesh Kislev until Zot Chanukah. Kislev is the month of miracles. Anyone who wants to experience miracles this month should focus on being happy, even when it's hard, and thanking Hashem for everything. One easy and meaningful way to thank Hashem is by reciting Mizmor LeTodah twice a day (Psalm 100).

3. Increase your Torah study throughout the month of Kislev.

4. Pray for Others. It's always incredibly powerful to pray for others, but especially this month. Chazal teach that when you pray for someone else, especially if they want the same blessing as you (soulmate, livelihood, health, etc.), you're actually answered first. When you genuinely wish something good for someone else, and you need that very same thing, you draw it toward yourself. By trusting that Hashem has enough blessings for everyone, you create room for miracles in your own life.

It's natural to think of ourselves first, but when we rise above that instinct and genuinely care for others, we bring Hashem tremendous joy by showing Him how much His children care for one another, and this is probably the very thing that draws down His great mercy upon us to answer our prayers!

5. Trust Hashem!!

Kislev is traditionally associated with the Hebrew word kislah, meaning trust and confidence. It's a month to strengthen our trust in Hashem, believe in the good that's coming, and remind ourselves that everything we've been through, and everything still ahead, is part of His loving plan for us.

It's especially meaningful that Hanukkah falls during Kislev, one of the darkest times of the year, when the days are short and the nights are long. Just as the Hanukkah candles bring beautiful light into the darkness, we're reminded that even in our darkest moments, Hashem's light can reach us. 

This reminds me of the beautiful words we sing from Tehillim:

"טוֹב לְהֹדוֹת לַה׳ וּלְזַמֵּר לְשִׁמְךָ עֶלְיוֹן. לְהַגִּיד בַּבֹּקֶר חַסְדֶּךָ וֶאֱמוּנָתְךָ בַּלֵּילוֹת." (Tehillim 92:2–3)

"It is good to thank Hashem and sing praises to Your name, Most High; to declare Your kindness in the morning and Your faithfulness at night."

There's such a beautiful lesson in these words. When life is bright and everything is going well, we thank Hashem for His kindness. But when life feels dark, and we can't see or understand what's happening, that's when we hold on to our emunah. We trust that Hashem is still watching over us, protecting us, and guiding us, even when we can't see His plan.

That's the power of "Emunatecha BaLeilot"—holding on to faith at night, when it's dark out and we cannot see anything.

It's important to remember that just as one small flame can illuminate an entire room, even a little emunah can bring tremendous light into our lives. This month, let your trust in Hashem grow stronger, knowing that no darkness is too great, because even the smallest amount of light that Hashem brings into your life can illuminate everything.

May this Rosh Chodesh Kislev bring miracles, blessings, protection, good health, happiness, and beautiful salvation to all of Am Yisrael. Amen!

Have a good and blessed month, B"H!