Name of the month: TISHREI
Other names of the month: YERECH EISONIM
Mazal of the month: MOZNAYIM (SCALES)
Tribe of the month (according to the Arizal): EFRAYIM
Tribe of the month (according to the Zohar): DON
The nature of Tishrei
The month of Tishrei has the most number of festive days. It starts with Rosh Hashana followed by Yom Kippur in a time period known as the ten days of repentance, Sukkos that contains Hoshana Rabba, and Shemini Atzeres. Why is this the case? Why are the good days not evenly positioned throughout the Jewish Year? The Yalkut Shemoini (Pinchos) tells us that in reality each summer month should have had one festival: Pesach in Nissan, Pesach Sheini in Iyar, Shavuous in Sivan. However, with the Cheit HoEgel, sin of the golden calf in Tammuz that continued with the sin of the Meraglim, spies, the next three months of Tammuz-Av-Elul had their special festival pushed off. When Tishrei came it repaid these months by having three festive times: Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkos and then had Shemini Atzeres for the month of Tishrei itself.
There is a lot to learn from this Midrash but what is clear is that we have explained why so many festivals are found in this month. Let us travel through Jewish thought into each of these festivals and their spiritual roots. Please continue to read through the sub pages for this month and enjoy! I would be delighted for any feedback. The mazal, astrological sign, for Tishrei is Moiznayim, scales, reflecting the time of judgement that takes place in this month of Tishrei – starting with Rosh Hashana and ending with Hoshana Rabba and Shemini Atzeres. The tribe that this month parallels is Don, according to the order of birth, or Efrayim, according to the Degolim, camps.
The balanced nature of Tishrei
The Maharal (Netzach) tells us that we can see the year based on the movement of the sun. Any times of extremes is not good for the Jews while when in time things are balanced and equal they are good for the Jews, namely the months of Nissan and Tishrei when the day and night are more or less equal. Extreme temperatures, either too hot or too cold and when the day is much longer than the night or the reverse is good for the goyim, examples being the months of Teves, Tammuz and Av.