- - Q. Honorable Rabbi. Thank you so much for your fast answer. I still have some more questions. First one; What is the reason Shovavim is kept at this time of the year?
A. The reason is that the parshiot of Shemos. Va’eira. Bo. Beshalach. Yisro. Mishpatim, are the first six sedras in sefer Shemos (the book of Exodus), which are read in the winter months, between Chanukah and Purim.
In Hebrew, their initial letters spell the word “shovavim,” which is the name by which this period is known.
Another explanation is because Shovavim falls after the winter solstice, which is when the days start to get longer.
This relates to a story recounted in Avodah Zara 8a: after Adam sinned, he observed that the days were getting shorter and feared that his disobedience to God had brought about the end of the world. Once the winter solstice passed, he saw the days getting longer again and was relieved. (Such is the natural order of the world, but it is also symbolic of his repentance being accepted.)
As we mentioned on question above the period of increasing daylight is seen as an auspicious time.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by, Horav Yaakov Hirschman, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit'a.
Important Numbers
