Shevat (, , ; from ) is the fifth month of the civil year starting in Tishre (or Tishri) and the eleventh month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar starting in Nisan. It is a month of 30 days. Shevat usually occurs in January–February on the Gregorian calendar.

The name of the month was taken from the Akkadian language during the Babylonian Captivity. The assumed Akkadian origin of the month is , meaning "strike", that refers to the heavy rains of the season. In Biblical sources, the month is first mentioned by this name in the book of prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 1:7).

Holidays

• 15 Shevat – Tu Bishvat

In Jewish history and tradition

• 1 Shevat – Moses repeats the Torah (Deuteronomy 1:3)

• 2 Shevat (circa 1628 BC) – Asher born

• 5 Shevat - The First Knesset convenes for the first time in Jerusalem, formally inaugurating Israel’s parliamentary democracy after the War of Independence.

• 9 Shevat (1885) - The Pittsburgh Platform is adopted by Reform Jewish leaders in the United States, redefining Reform Judaism’s stance on ritual law, nationalism, and messianism

• 10 Shevat (1950) - Death of the Previous Rebbe, the 6th Chabad Rebbe.

• 17-18 Shevat — the minor Purim of Saragossa, where the Jews of Saragossa were saved from destruction at the hand of an informant.

• 24 Shevat (517 BC) – Zechariah's prophecy (Zechariah 1:7–16)

• 28 Shevat (circa 134 BC) – Antiochus V abandoned his siege of Jerusalem and his plans for the city's destruction. This day was observed as a holiday in Hasmonean times. (Megilat Taanit)

See also

• Babylonian calendar, where the month's name was Araḫ Šabaṭu

• Jewish astrology

• Šubāṭ () and Şubat is the name for the month of February in Arabic and Turkish.

• Magha is the name of the equivalent month in the Hindu Calendar

References

External links

• This Month in Jewish History

• Resources on the Month of Shevat