30th day of Kislev, 5771
Today is the 1st day of Rosh Chodesh Tebet, and the 6th Day of Chanuka, at night we light 7 candles
Besides Chanuka, today we also celebrate Rosh Chodesh Tebet.
In the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) the name of this month is Chodesh ha-Asiri, the tenth month, counting from Nisan. The name Tebet was coined in Babylonia, same as all the other Hebrew months' names.
Some years Rosh Chodesh Tebet is observed for one day and some years -for example, this year- for two days. Why? Because Kislev, the preceding month, is sometimes "full" (consisting of 30 days) and sometimes not (consisting of only 29 days).
In other words: The 30th day of the preceding month is always the first day of Rosh Chodesh of the next month, and the second day of Rosh Chodesh is the 1st day of the new month. The month of Tebet itself, is always 29 days long and because of this lack of variation in the length of Tebet, Rosh Chodesh Shebat, the month which follows Tebet, will always be celebrated for just one day (the 1st of Shebat).
The story of Chanuka in 1967 http://www.aish.com/v/ho/78754242.html
Rabbi Yosef Bitton. YMJC 130 Steamboat Rd. Great Neck NY 11024
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