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Bible Encyclopedias
Shebaṭ
The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia
or 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 Shebaá¹ the shoḥeá¹ must eat its heart; otherwise he will die. According to another tradition, a goose should not be eaten on the 8th of Shebaá¹ (Isserles in Shulḥan 'Aruk, Yoreh De'ah, 11, 4; Simeon Duran, "Tashbeáº," No. 101). The reason given in the "Sefer ha-Ḳanah" is that in Shebaá¹ the demons prevail; so that he who slaughters a goose in that month is likely to die himself ("Be'er Heá¹eb" on Shulḥan 'Aruk, c.).
- Lampronti, Paḥad Yiáºá¸¥aḳ, s.
; - Schürer, Gesch. 3d ed., 1:745.
These files are public domain.
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.
