Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, April 6th, 2025
the Fifth Sunday of Lent
There are 14 days til Easter!
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Bible Encyclopedias
Shebaṭ

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

Search for…
or
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Prev Entry
Shebarim
Next Entry
Shebi'it
Resource Toolbox
Additional Links

Eleventh ecclesiastical and fifth civil month of the Jewish year (Zechariah 1:7); I Macc. ), corresponding to January-February, and always consisting of thirty days. The 1st of Shebaá¹­, according to the school of Shammai, or the 15th, according to the school of Hillel, is the New-Year for Trees with respect to the tithe (R. H. 1:1). This month was chosen because most of the annual rains occur before Shebaá¹­; so that the trees which blossom afterward are considered as belonging to another year (ib. 14a). As the school of Hillel is the standard authority, the 15th of Shebaá¹­ has continued to be observed as a semiholy day. When a community institutes a fast for Mondays and Thursdays, it must not be observed if one of those days falls on the 15th of Shebaá¹­ ("Mordekai" on R. H., beginning).

There is a tradition that when a goose is killed in Shebaṭ the shoḥeṭ must eat its heart; otherwise he will die. According to another tradition, a goose should not be eaten on the 8th of Shebaṭ (Isserles in Shulḥan 'Aruk, Yoreh De'ah, 11, 4; Simeon Duran, "Tashbeẓ," No. 101). The reason given in the "Sefer ha-Ḳanah" is that in Shebaṭ the demons prevail; so that he who slaughters a goose in that month is likely to die himself ("Be'er Heṭeb" on Shulḥan 'Aruk, c.).

Bibliography:
  • Lampronti, Paḥad Yiẓḥaḳ, s. ;
  • Schürer, Gesch. 3d ed., 1:745.
A.
M. Sel.
Bibliography Information
Singer, Isidore, Ph.D, Projector and Managing Editor. Entry for 'Shebaṭ'. 1901 The Jewish Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​tje/​s/shebaa1.html. 1901.
 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile