The Hebrew Month of Kislev | Unlocking Miracles

The Hebrew month of Kislev is the third month of the Jewish civil year and the ninth month (counting from Nisan) of the spiritual year. It is celebrated in November/December on the Gregorian calendar and is highlighted by Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. 

Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of the month and commemorates the Maccabees’ victory and the miracle of oil, symbolizing God’s enduring presence and provision.

Kislev Tribe and Letter

• The Tribe: The Hebrew month of Kislev is associated with the tribe of Benjamin, known for selfless devotion and its association with the Temple. 
• The Letter: The Hebrew letter associated with Kislev is samech, which means support, embodying themes of divine protection and strength that permeate the month.

More information about the tribe of Benjamin and the letter samech below.

The Hebrew Month of Kislev and Miracles

The Hebrew month of Kislev is linked to miracles, trust, and light, which is depicted in the month’s eight-day Hanukkah celebration. It is the month to focus on faith in God’s promises, reflect on the miracles of Hanukkah, and embrace the idea of divine guidance in uncertain times. 

The themes for the Hebrew month of Kislev include…

• Restoration 
• Security
• Hope

Step into alignment with the Father’s heart this month by…

• Encouraging people to seek spiritual renewal and the presence of God
• Trusting in His timing
• Being a light of hope to those in need  

Let Lights Be a Sign

Genesis 1:14 says:

• “God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to divide the day from the night; let them be for signs, seasons (Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 10:18), days and years; and let them be for lights in the dome of the sky to give light to the earth”; and that is how it was.” (CJB)

As I read, the words “let them be for signs” jumped off the page. 

• Signs for what?
• Signs for who? 
• And if they are signs, am I paying attention?

The stars, sun, and moon are the lights that are signs. God set them in place to rule, divide, govern, and illuminate the earth’s atmosphere. I found it interesting that the word “seasons” can mean “appointed times” or “feasts.”

Leviticus 23:4-5 instructs:

• “‘These are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times. On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover.” (emphasis added)
• “These are the designated times of Adonai, the holy convocations you are to proclaim at their designated times. “‘In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, between sundown and complete darkness, comes Pesach for Adonai.” (CJB, emphasis added)

These instructions linked to a very specific time, season, and day that God set in place before creating humanity. On the fourth day of creation, God’s calendar, cycles, and designated times–His annual flow–was established.

Before we were made in His image and life was breathed into us, God’s annual cycle was there to serve as a guide, to make us aware, and ultimately to continually bring us back to Him at His designated times.

Designated Days

Designated is to indicate and set apart for a specific purpose, office, or duty.

God’s designated days were set apart for a specific purpose. However, if we don’t observe or pay attention to the times and the seasons, we fall out of sync with God’s rhythm. It would be like going through our days or weeks without referencing a clock or our calendars.

I would miss many things if I didn’t pay attention to the day or time. And if I went a whole year without referencing a calendar, I would be lost! I’d be late to or absent for everything!

• Missed appointments and birthdays
• Missed holidays and anniversaries

Our calendars serve as guides to ensure we stay on track and show up.

Do You Know What Time It Is?

The same applies to our Heavenly Father’s calendar. Do we know what time it is?

• These days and months of the Hebrew calendar are links to our Father’s appointed times.
• They give us an understanding of God’s structure and when and how He was speaking.

God’s established and appointed times guide our hearts back to His. If the heavenly bodies serve as signs, our prayer must remain: “Open my eyes to what You are saying in this season.”

If days and seasons are unique in their purpose and intent, then our desire should be to walk in sync with that. Let’s live in alignment and structure our lives accordingly. Declare to God, “I want to plan my days according to Yours.”

Sow Seeds of Miracles and Breakthroughs in Kislev

The month of Kislev is a time to help others experience breakthroughs through giving, praying, and taking action. Rooted in the themes of miracles, light, and hope, Kislev calls us to carry Yeshua’s light into the world, sharing His love and provision. By aligning with God’s purposes, we can sow into the miracles He desires to do, spreading His sustaining power to those in need.

Our responsibility isn’t to be perfect in all our actions but to be willing to take action when God calls us to. Kislev is a month to experience God’s presence. Still, we aren’t to experience this presence only for ourselves but to reflect His power and love to others, sowing seeds into their miracles and breakthroughs. We are to be a living testimony of His might and love. 

This Kislev, ask God where He wants you to sow for miracles. Ask God who needs the hope and light of Yeshua that overcomes darkness. God is a God of multiplication. He wants to bless you and use you to bless others who need hope, support, and restoration. As we reflect Yeshua’s light, we become vessels of His miracles, empowering others to overcome darkness and glorify God.

Let us open our eyes to what God is saying in this season in a practical and tangible way. Ask Him to align our hearts with His and for His people. 

Tribe of Benjamin and Kislev

The Hebrew month of Kislev is also connected to the tribe of Benjamin, which means “son of my right hand.”

Quickview of Benjamin

• He was Jacob’s only son, born in Eretz, Israel (the Holy Land, Israel).
• He was the only one of Joseph’s 11 brothers who was not involved in the plot to sell Joseph.
• The temple was partially built on a portion of land given to the tribe of Benjamin.
• When Moses blessed the tribes in Genesis 33, he blessed the firstborn first (Reuben), and then he gave priority to the three tribes who were associated with the Temple of God: Judah, Levi, and Benjamin. Some scholars say the reason these three tribes were given the honor of being partners in the Beis HaMikdash (the Holy Temple) was because, at some point, each tribe had demonstrated nefesh (selfless devotion, “to the extent that one is willing to give his or her life to sanctify Hashem’s Name.”)
• In Benjamin’s portion, the Temple would reside, and God’s Spirit would dwell.

“Of Benjamin, he said: ‘The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him, Who shelters him all the day long, And he shall dwell between His shoulders.”—Genesis 33:12 

Kislev, the Hanukkah Month

The connection between the month of Kislev and the tribe of Benjamin also reveals something about the Temple, specifically through the story of Hanukkah. 

Hanukkah celebrates the power of light over darkness and good over evil. It commemorates the Maccabees, a remnant who refused to bow to the Hellenization of their culture and honors the miraculous victory of a small Jewish army over the extensive Syrian-Greek empire and the miracle of the oil.

When the Jews sought to light the Temple menorah after the war, they could only find one small jug of pure oil. They lit the *Temple menorah, representing the eternal presence of God, in faith, and miraculously, the one-day supply burned for eight days. 

The celebration of Hanukkah and the miracle of God’s provision is now honored annually through an eight-day festival and the lighting of a Hanukkiah each night.

*A traditional Temple menorah has seven branches. A Hanukkiah has nine–one for each night plus the shamash, the helper candle in the middle used to light all other branches.

The Hebrew Letter Samech

Kislev is associated with the Hebrew letter samech. 

The word samech means “support.” Samech is symbolic of support and assistance. It “floats” in the alphabet, independent and closed off from other letters. Therefore, a miracle keeps it in place.

The Father supports all the fallen ones. According to Jewish tradition, Hashem (God) supports the ones above, and He supports the ones below; He supports this world, and He supports the world to come.

• 60 is the numerical value of samech
• 60 the Birkat Kohanim (priestly blessing Numbers 6:24-26) has 60 letters
• 60, according to Talmudic teaching (referencing Judges 16:3), is believed to have been the number of cubits between Samson’s shoulders, representing strength, wholeness, and perfection

Kislev’s Take Away

Kislev is closely associated with…

• The Temple
• Miracles
• Selfless devotion
• Dedication
• Support
• The priesthood

It is clear the Father is always speaking, but we may not always be listening. I am often distracted or completely unaware of the miracles and God’s divine timing surrounding me. 

There is so much depth and richness in our Jewish heritage and roots and the seasons God has established. We are only beginning to scratch the surface, and as we do, we discover more about our identities and purposes–our Kingdom destinies. 

The journey of understanding the Hebrew months, seasons, and Jewish heritage positions our hearts to declare…

• “Oh, I see. I understand. Now I am equipped to make better decisions or set my expectations. I see You and Your fingerprint in all of creation. I feel Your presence.”

The Father wants to reveal Himself to you personally and illuminate the path ahead with revelation and expectation. 

• The Temple of God represents the place where the presence of God dwells. It is where His presence rests and humanity worships and presents our offering. First Corinthians 3:16 says, “We are the temple of the living God.” This means He has chosen You to be a dwelling place for His presence. Fill your temple with a fresh outpouring of oil, the Holy Spirit, rest in Him, and live a life of worship. 

• There is a golden thread of God’s presence woven through the Hebrew month of Kislev. This reminds us that we are called to be carriers of His presence no matter how dark it is. He is the light within us that illuminates. He is the Miracle Maker. Ask Him to illuminate your path and give you the shoes of peace, giving you the authority to share His shalom wherever you go. 

• Kislev is connected to the tribe of Benjamin, and part of the Temple was in the tribe of Benjamin’s land allotment. At Hanukkah, we celebrate the miracle of the oil in the Temple and the rededication that came from the selfless devotion of the remnant who took a stand and fought against the Hellenization of their culture (led by Judah Maccabee, the Jewish priest). Ask the Lord to give you a heart of selfless devotion, and to stand firm in His ways, not compromising to the culture. 

According to the *Talmud, either the tribe of Benjamin or the tribe of Judah (both associated with the Temple) were the first to enter the Red Sea. Can you imagine this step of faith and trust, believing in the God of miracles?

• There is a thread of faith, dedication, and holiness throughout the Hebrew month of Kislev that unlocks the miraculous and the presence of God. This is a divine unlocking season, causing what has been prayed and hoped for to manifest. Ask the Spirit to align your heart’s desires with the Lord, trusting His “yes and amen” answer, unlocking the manifestation this month. 

*Talmud: ancient teaching that makes up the central text of Rabbinic Judaism

Prayer for Kislev

For the Hebrew month of Kislev, our prayer is that you truly experience the miraculous power of God in your life. May you take a stand in faith for righteousness and light the candles of the Hanukkiah, knowing that God is your provision now and in the coming year. 

Trust He will supply all of your needs according to His richness and glory (Philippians 4:19), and He is your support. May you continually be aware that you are the temple of the King of the Universe and carry God’s presence in strength and wholeness wherever you go. The only perfect one, the Miracle Maker, breathed life into you, and may you serve Him with selfless devotion and dedication as a priest unto Him (Revelation 1:6).

A Hebrew blessing… 

“Y’varekh’kha Adonai v’yishmerekha.

[May Adonai bless you and keep you.]

Ya’er Adonai panav eleikha vichunekka.

[May Adonai make his face shine on you and show you his favor.]

Yissa Adonai panav eleikha v’yasem l’kha shalom.

[May Adonai lift up his face toward you and give you peace.]’—Numbers 6:24-26 (CJB)