6147 – Married on Marcheshvon? -

A. See last question, where we mentioned an array of different opinions in regards to getting married on Marcheshvan. And indeed there are other reasons to abstain. However many maintain that one can and should get married on Marcheshvan as is the general minhag to do so.

On question 1184 we wrote:

The Pri Chodosh (Even Haezer 126:7) suggests that the name Marcheshvan is based on the fact that it marks the beginning of the rainy season. The Targum translated mar as tipa, a drop, in the verse ‘Hen goyim k’mar midli; Behold, the nations are as a drop of water from a bucket (Ishaiah 40:15). As such, the name means the ‘Rainy Cheshvan,’ and far from mar meaning bitter, on the contrary it connotes a month blessed by rains.

The month is infamous because of flood in the times of Noah occurred in that month. The flood began on the 17th of Cheshvan. Then again, the waters receded by the following year on the 27th of Cheshvan, allowing Noah and the other inhabitants of the ark to disembark. Interestingly, one explanation of the Tanachic name for this month Bul is that it stems from this month as the beginning of the rainy season in Israel; it is thus connected to the word mabul, flood – and the overabundance of rain.

We musst mention that it is the month when Sarah, the Matriarch died. (Midrash Esther Rabba 7: 13, Sdei Chemed, ibid.). This fact is amply argued in seforim, Betzel Hachochma (2: 60) quotes Midroshim which maintain she died in Tishrei. Moreover, the Avos and Moshe, Aharon, Dovid etc. died in months that we do make weddings. (See ample discussion in Osrei Lageffen p. 67). In principle,

Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a mantains that one should follow the traditions of their families.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by, Horav Yaakov Hirschman, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a