Shevat (Hebrew: שְׁבָט, StandardŠəvaṭ, TiberianŠeḇāṭ; from Akkadian: Šabātu) is the fifth month of the civil year starting in Tishre (or Tishri) and the eleventh month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar starting in Nisan. It is a month of 30 days. Shevat usually occurs in January–February on the Gregorian calendar.
The name of the month was taken from the Akkadian language during the Babylonian Captivity. The assumed Akkadian origin of the month is Šabātu, meaning "strike", that refers to the heavy rains of the season.
[1] In Biblical sources, the month is first mentioned by this name in the book of prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 1:7).
5 Shevat - The First Knesset convenes for the first time in Jerusalem, formally inaugurating Israel’s parliamentary democracy after the War of Independence.
9 Shevat (1885) - The Pittsburgh Platform is adopted by Reform Jewish leaders in the United States, redefining Reform Judaism’s stance on ritual law, nationalism, and messianism
10 Shevat (1950) - Death of the Previous Rebbe, the 6th Chabad Rebbe.
17-18 Shevat — the minor Purim of Saragossa, where the Jews of Saragossa were saved from destruction at the hand of an informant.[2]
28 Shevat (circa 134 BC) – Antiochus V abandoned his siege of Jerusalem and his plans for the city's destruction. This day was observed as a holiday in Hasmonean times.[3] (Megilat Taanit)
