Yesterday, we learned a bit about the letter samech. Today, I want to share the meaning of the word kislev. In Hebrew, Kislev is a compound word: kis means “pocket” and lev means “heart.” When they are put together, you get a little bit of poetry: “pocket of the heart.”
As this month begins, I invite you to consider what your “heart pocket” is holding and what it has the potential to hold. Sheryl Shapiro reflects on this idea in her poem, “The Blessing of Kislev.”
Simple treasures
nuzzled into felted folds
warm in the ample pocket
embroidered
in deepening spirals
stitching stitching
luminous threads
the tiny songbird
in my heart
alights
humming humming
safe
free
As we look ahead to the celebration of Hanukkah, the natural cycle of our days will decrease in light while our homes will increase in the light of Hanukkah candles. In preparation for the amplification of light, we must open space to let the light in. Perhaps that is what the “heart pocket” is for.The light you hold may be different for each of us: for one person, it may be the smile of someone they hold dear. For another, it could be the joy of fresh baked bread or a scented candle. We each find light in different ways and at different times, but we can strive to keep our light close to us by tucking it into the pockets of our hearts.
How will you open yourself to the light of Kislev and allow it to illuminate your heart pocket?
— Rabbinic Intern Yael Farber