Shevat
Shevat reminds us that faith is often practiced in advance of evidence. We are asked to invest in growth before we see results, to nourish what feels quiet, and to honor the slow intelligence of becoming. This is a month for strengthening roots—emunah that does not depend on outcomes, joy that is not contingent on external success, and commitment that persists even when the branches are still bare.
If Kislev teaches us that light can appear in darkness, Shevat teaches us that light can be cultivated, patiently, intentionally, and with trust in the Divine rhythm of growth. What begins here does not rush. It matures. And when it finally emerges, it does so with depth, sweetness, and permanence.
This is the work of Shevat:
to believe in life before it blooms,
to tend what is unseen,
and to align yourself with a future that is already quietly taking root.
The Shevat Path: Roots Beneath the Surface and the Courage to Grow
Shevat is the month when life commits to growth before it becomes visible. As the eleventh month of the Jewish year, it carries the spiritual signature of beyond—beyond habit, beyond surface reality, beyond what can be measured by appearances alone. In the natural world, most of the winter rains have already fallen, yet nothing looks changed; inwardly, however, sap begins to rise. Spiritually, Shevat teaches that real transformation begins internally, in places still hidden from view, long before fruit or blossoms appear.
At the heart of the month stands Tu B’Shvat, the fifteenth of Shevat, designated in the Mishnah as Rosh Hashanah La’ilanot, the New Year for Trees. This day is marked by joy rather than penitence: Tachanun is omitted, fasting is forbidden, and fruits—especially the fruits of Eretz Yisrael—are eaten with intention. Fruit, unlike wheat or barley, is not about survival but about ta’anug, pleasure and delight. The message is clear: avodat Hashem is meant to be lived not only with discipline, but with sweetness, enthusiasm, and joy, turning one’s spiritual life into a garden rather than a mere routine.
Kabbalistic tradition deepens this theme by revealing how precisely Shevat is aligned with Divine unity and future redemption. The word Ilan (tree) and the word Shevat both share the numerical value of 311, linking the month itself to the essence of growth. The date of Tu B’Shvat—15 of the 11th month—adds to 26, the gematria of Hashem’s essential Name, hinting that Divine presence is embedded within the natural process of renewal. The Mishnah’s phrase “New Year for Trees” in the plural alludes to the Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life, suggesting that eating fruit on this day offers a foretaste of a redeemed world, when knowledge and life reunite and even barren trees will produce fruit effortlessly.
Shevat also carries profound historical weight through key moments in Chabad leadership that embody its themes of transition and elevation. The 10th of Shevat marks the yahrzeit of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the Previous Rebbe, a day when a tzaddik’s entire life work is said to become fully available to bring salvation into the world. On the 11th of Shevat the following year, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson assumed leadership, signaling a shift into the spiritual energy of eleven—a level beyond the natural order of ten, rooted in Echad, Divine oneness itself. The yahrzeits of Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah on the 13th and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka on the 22nd of Shevat further anchor the month in quiet, enduring strength, compassion, and continuity. Together, these dates frame Shevat as a month of deep rooting, gentle elevation, and the transformation of hidden potential into enduring holiness.
The Essence of Shevat
Begin the Path of Shevat
Shevat is the month of:
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Roots strengthening beneath the surface
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Growth beginning before it can be seen
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Pleasure returning to avodah after long effort
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Life quietly choosing to move forward
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Joy emerging from steadiness, not intensity
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The future taking shape inside the present
40 Day Challenges Recommended:
The Kabbalists teach that Shevat corresponds to the number 11 — the oneness (Echad) that exists beyond structure, measure, and natural limitation. Eleven is the place where Divine unity transcends the visible order, where what once felt excessive, fragmented, or unmanageable is refined into holiness.
Tu B’Shvat itself reveals this principle:
A tree that looks dormant… is alive with rising sap.
Fruit that is not necessary for survival… becomes central.
Growth that feels delayed… is precisely on time.
Shevat teaches you to trust what is growing in you even before it blooms.
Tehillim for the Month of Shevat
Shevat is a month of inner growth, when life strengthens beneath the surface and blessing begins to take form quietly. Reading Tehillim during this time aligns the soul with the natural rhythm of the season—deep roots, rising sap, and fruit that emerges in its proper time. These chapters were traditionally associated with Tu B’Shvat learning because they allow a person to experience creation itself as a living expression of Divine presence.
Tehillim 1 invites reflection on rootedness. “He shall be like a tree planted by streams of water” describes a person whose spiritual life is nourished continuously, even when conditions feel wintry or still. This chapter is especially fitting for Shevat, a time when growth is happening internally, reminding us that stability in Torah allows a person to remain alive, flexible, and fruitful in every season.
Tehillim 92 speaks directly in the language of Tu B’Shvat. “The righteous will flourish like a date palm; like a cedar of Lebanon he will grow” portrays spiritual strength that is both fruitful and enduring. The date palm produces sweetness under harsh conditions, while the cedar stands tall and unwavering—together modeling the kind of balanced, resilient growth Shevat calls forth.
Tehillim 72 is a tefillah for abundance, peace, and sustained blessing. Its imagery of flourishing crops and fruit spreading across the land aligns with Shevat’s focus on shefa—Divine flow entering the world in measured, lasting ways. This chapter is often read with the intention that material and spiritual blessing unfold in harmony.
Tehillim 104 expands the lens outward to all of creation. It praises Hashem through the ecosystems of the world—trees, springs, animals, seasons—revealing nature as a structured, intentional expression of Divine wisdom. Reading this psalm during Shevat nurtures gratitude and awareness that growth, provision, and balance are woven into creation itself.
Tehillim 148 completes the arc by inviting all existence into praise. Trees, mountains, creatures, and humanity together form a single chorus, echoing the deeper meaning of Rosh Hashanah La’ilanot. In Shevat, this chapter helps cultivate the awareness that even silent growth and unseen processes are already praising Hashem.
These Tehillim are not meant to be rushed. They are read slowly, allowing their imagery to settle and take root—just as Shevat teaches us to honor growth that begins quietly and unfolds in its proper time.
The Spiritual Energy of Shevat
Kabbalistically, Shevat carries the energy of ta’anug—holy pleasure—alongside inner renewal and transformation. It is a month devoted to becoming a “living tree,” one who receives Divine flow from Above and channels blessing into the world below. The avodah of Shevat centers on transforming eating, desire, and material life into conscious avodat Hashem, revealing that pleasure itself can be a vessel for holiness.
Shevat corresponds to the letter tzadi, evoking the tzaddik—“a righteous one like a tree planted by streams of water.” The tzaddik is not defined by withdrawal from the world, but by alignment: drawing shefa from Above and distributing it outward with precision and care. The Divine Name permutation associated with Shevat, Hei–Yud–Vav–Hei, signals this inner reversal and elevation—lower instincts are lifted upward through mindful action, and physical pleasure becomes a means of drawing Divine light into the world.
The tribe of Shevat is Asher, described in the Torah as blessed with “rich bread and royal delicacies.” Asher embodies abundance, sweetness, and delight—not as indulgence, but as sanctified enjoyment. Accordingly, the primary sense of the month is taste, and the spiritual work involves rectifying eating: slowing down, blessing with awareness, and experiencing flavor as a direct gift from Hashem. In Shevat, food becomes prayer, and the body becomes an instrument of connection rather than distraction.
The mazal of Shevat is D’li (Aquarius), the water-bearer, symbolizing channels of Divine flow. Torah is compared to water, tzaddikim to carriers of that water, and each Jew to a conduit tasked with nourishing the world. Tu B’Shvat, the New Year for Trees, reveals this archetype most clearly: every soul is an ilan, rooted in emunah, strengthened through Torah and mitzvot, and meant to bear fruit that sustains others. Even in winter, sap is already rising—hidden renewal preparing visible growth.
Numerologically, Shevat is the eleventh month, and eleven represents a level beyond natural order. Ten signifies completion; eleven signifies transcendence and redemption. This is the number associated both with impurity and with its rectification—the foul-smelling incense that becomes holy when included, the darkness that transforms when elevated. The mission of Shevat is precisely this: to take what once felt excessive, instinctual, or fragmented, and refine it into holiness.
This redemptive quality is echoed in the month’s leadership energy. On the 10th of Shevat, the Previous Rebbe’s life work becomes fully revealed; on the 11th, a new era of leadership begins—rooted not in withdrawal from the world, but in bringing Godliness into it. Even the name Shevat hints at this destiny, sharing a root with shevet—a branch and a scepter—symbols of growth and kingship, both traditionally associated with Mashiach.
Shevat’s energy is therefore quiet but decisive. It does not demand dramatic change, but faithful participation in unseen processes. Through mindful eating, gratitude, generosity, and trust in small acts done consistently, Shevat teaches that pleasure can be purified, desire can be elevated, and life itself can become a channel of blessing. What grows now may still be hidden—but it is already alive.
23 Shevat – A Day of Prayer, Memory, and Et Ratzon
The 23rd of Shevat is the hilulah of Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Yisrael Alfeya zt”l, the great kabbalist of Aram Tzobah (Aleppo) and father of Rabbi Yitzchak Alfeya.
In his will, Rabbi Alfeya wrote that those who studied with him should recite Petach Eliyahu on the day of his yahrzeit each year, for life, for the elevation of his soul—while placing their hope in the salvation of Hashem. He added that his soul would pray before Hashem on their behalf.
Although his words were directed primarily to his students, it is certainly fitting for anyone who wishes to honor his soul to recite Petach Eliyahu on this day with sincerity and humility.
📖 Petach Eliyahu appears in many siddurim before Shacharit and is also available online.
🕯 Lighting a candle is a meaningful minhag for a yahrzeit, though it is not mentioned explicitly in the will itself.
A Note on Calendar Alignment
In years when 23 Shevat falls on the sixth day of the sixth week (shishi she’b’shishi), Rabbi Chaim Palaggi writes that this configuration is considered a special et ratzon according to Kabbalah—particularly suited for teshuvah, inner repair, and sincere prayer. This alignment does not occur every year.
How to Mark the Day
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Recite Petach Eliyahu on 23 Shevat
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Have in mind the elevation of the soul of Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Yisrael Alfeya zt”l
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Pray to Hashem for all areas of need—spiritual and practical, personal and collective
Salvation comes only from Hashem. The merit of a tzaddik invites humility, reflection, and deeper tefillah strengthened hope and connection.
May this day be a source of rachamim, tikkun, and quiet yeshuot for all of Am Yisrael.
4th of Shevat: The Hilloula of the Baba Sali
The 4th of Shevat marks the Hilloula of the renowned miracle worker and Kabbalist, Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzeira, known as the Baba Sali.
• The Segulah: Participants are encouraged to light candles in his memory and offer prayers. Donating to charity (specifically to synagogues or causes associated with his legacy) and purchasing candles to be lit in his honor are considered acts that bring merit.
• The Benefit: Engaging in these acts on this day is a source of protection, peace, and blessing for oneself and all of Israel, invoking the merit of the Tzadik to intercede for health, success, and redemption.
4th of Shevat: The Hilloula of the Baba Sali
The 4th of Shevat marks the Hilloula of the renowned miracle worker and Kabbalist, Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzeira, known as the Baba Sali.
• The Segulah: Participants are encouraged to light candles in his memory and offer prayers. Donating to charity (specifically to synagogues or causes associated with his legacy) and purchasing candles to be lit in his honor are considered acts that bring merit.
• The Benefit: Engaging in these acts on this day is a source of protection, peace, and blessing for oneself and all of Israel, invoking the merit of the Tzadik to intercede for health, success, and redemption.
Shevat and Shidduchim
While Tu B’Av is the primary date traditionally associated with shidduchim, the month of Shevat carries a quieter and more inward energy connected to marriage, alignment, and readiness for covenant. Shevat is the month of trees—of roots strengthening beneath the surface—and shidduchim, too, often depend less on outward effort and more on unseen spiritual preparation. It is a time associated with inner renewal, forgiveness, and the refinement of desire, all of which form the foundation for lasting partnership.
Within Chabad tradition, the 11th of Shevat is understood as a day of renewed bond and responsibility. It marks a moment of transition and commitment, often described as a deepening of connection rather than its beginning. In Chassidic language, this mirrors the nature of marriage itself—not merely attraction, but covenant, responsibility, and shared destiny. The energy of this date highlights union that emerges from alignment and maturity rather than urgency.
Shevat is also linked to the fruit of marriage—continuity, blessing, and children. A well-known story tells of a woman who struggled to have children for many years and received a blessing in the merit of Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah. She later gave birth on the 19th of Shevat, naming her daughter in the Rebbetzin’s honor. This story reflects Shevat’s spiritual signature: long-hidden processes coming to fruition at precisely the right moment.
On a deeper level, the spiritual mechanics of shidduchim operate throughout the year, and Shevat naturally aligns with them. The Gemara teaches that forty days before a person is born, a Heavenly voice announces their destined partner. When the time for a match arrives, angels formed through Torah, mitzvot, and heartfelt prayer facilitate the meeting. Even prayers offered with confusion, pain, or longing are not wasted; they still participate in guiding the connection, sometimes through unexpected or indirect paths.
Marriage itself is described as a form of atonement. The wedding day is considered a personal Yom Kippur, a complete resetting of the soul, which is why the bride traditionally wears white. This theme resonates deeply with Shevat’s energy of purification through growth—where new life emerges not through force, but through quiet alignment and readiness.
Chassidic teachings also expand the definition of marriage beyond the physical union. Inspiring another person, teaching Torah, or helping someone grow spiritually is described as a form of spiritual parenthood. In this sense, every individual—married or not—can bear fruit and participate in the essence of shidduchim by bringing life, goodness, and connection into the world. As the New Year for Trees, Shevat honors this broader vision of fruitfulness.
Practically, prayer for shidduchim during Shevat emphasizes persistence and sincerity. One is encouraged to set aside focused daily time—often ten minutes—to speak openly with Hashem about a desired zivug or about strengthening shalom bayit. The tradition teaches that prayer, coupled with charity and inner refinement, has the power to soften decrees and open pathways that once felt closed.
Shevat does not promise immediate answers. It offers alignment. It teaches trust in unseen growth, patience with timing, and faith that what is taking root now is already moving toward revelation—quietly, steadily, and with purpose.
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Baba Sali of Netivot: The Tzaddik Whose Blessings Revealed Hidden Light
A Kislev Prayer Trek for Miracles, Protection, and Swift Heavenly Mercy
Kislev is the month when light breaks through the deepest darkness — not gradually, but suddenly, like oil that burns far beyond what nature allows. Few souls in the last century embodied this power more fully than Baba Sali, Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzeira, the gentle giant of prayer whose blessings unlocked miracles, healings, salvations, and transformations for countless Jews.
Hidden in outward simplicity, Baba Sali lived in constant deveikut, fasting through the week, guarding his eyes, immersed in Torah and Zohar, and pouring rivers of blessing into the world with radical humility. His home in Netivot became a sanctuary where thousands came day and night, and where impossible stories unfolded — healings in moments, breakthroughs after years of pain, water and oil multiplying endlessly, rain descending instantly, lost souls and lost bodies found with perfect timing.
Kislev is the month of emunah in hidden miracles, and Baba Sali’s soul radiates exactly that energy. He taught that the power was never his but came from emunah itself — from the heart opening to Hashem with simplicity, purity, and trust. To stand at his kever during Kislev is to step into a spiritual field where concealment lifts, light rushes forward, and salvation becomes possible even when the mind cannot imagine how.
This is why Emuna Builders offers Kislev Prayer Treks to Baba Sali’s resting place in Netivot — a month when his light is especially aligned with the cosmic current of redemption, dreams, hidden blessings, and divine protection. Women often sponsor a trek during Kislev for:
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Healing and recovery
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Safety and protection against unseen forces
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Parnassa breakthroughs
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Shidduchim and renewed emotional clarity
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Help in situations that feel spiritually “blocked”
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A sudden turning point after long waiting
Just as the oil burned beyond expectation, Baba Sali’s blessings were known to manifest beyond all natural limits. Kislev is the time to invite that kind of light — the light that expands, multiplies, and transforms darkness into revealed kindness.
Sponsor a Baba Sali Prayer Trek
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Shevat Guide
Shevat Guide in an easy to read guide to lead you through the month of Shevat.