The Jewish month of Kislev is the darkest month of the calendar—a month of reflection, dreaming, and slowly returning light. During this month, the days get markedly shorter and colder. We usually experience the Winter Solstice during Kislev—the shortest day and longest night of the year. 

But immediately after the Solstice, ever so slowly, the light begins to return. The meaning of Kislev is to remind us that even in the darkest time, there is hope. We enact that shift ourselves as we increase the number of candles each night of Hanukkah, Kislev’s holiday of lights. 

The rabbis connect the name of the month, “Kislev,” to the Hebrew word “kesel,” meaning “trust” or “hope” (Job 31:24; Psalm 78:7). From its very name, Kislev invites us to hope for the light, even in the dark of winter. The month invites us to lean into trust—that light returns, that renewal is coming, and that our small illuminating acts make a difference.

It’s no wonder, then, that Kislev is associated with dreams. The parshiyot we read during this time are filled with dreams, darkness, and transformation: 

• Vayetze: Jacob dreams of the angelic ladder.
• Vayishlach: Jacob wrestles throughout the night.
• Vayeshev and Miketz: Joseph interprets his own dreams, and Pharoah’s, shaping the futures of Egypt and Israel. 

Nine of the Torah’s ten recorded dreams are read during Kislev! This month calls us to pay attention: to what our dreams reveal, to what darkness can make possible, and to what beginnings might be stirring beneath the surface. 

With longer and colder nights, staying in with a good book sounds like a plan to me! I’ve put together a short book list for Kislev with themes of dreams, spirituality, and perseverance: 

The History of Last Night’s Dream: Discovering the Hidden Path to the Soul by Rodger Kamenetz

Best book for the month of dreams.

Kamenetz, best known for his book The Jew in the Lotus, blends memoir, psychoanalysis, dream-work, and Kabbalah into a compelling exploration of the inner world. He shows how one can use dreams to work on the self and connect with the soul—a fitting journey for Kislev, the month of dreams.  

Einstein and the Rabbi: Searching for the Soul by Naomi Levy

Best book for Kislev’s themes of spirituality. 

Naomi Levy has a gift for writing about spirituality with honesty and accessibility. In this book, she tackles the mystery of a letter that Einstein wrote to a grieving father, addressing a unity that is at the heart of all existence. Levy investigates what led Einstein, a man of science, to this metaphysical perspective. It’s an immersive journey into spirituality that’s perfect for a month of introspection.

Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May

Best book to explore Kislev’s themes of hope and resilience. 

Kislev is not only about literal light in the dark; it’s also about perseverance through difficult times. We read about the Maccabees and their refusal to give up—and about an unlikely miracle. Katherine May explores how to keep moving forward when life has thrown you curveballs—and how to find opportunities in hard and painful times. In the dark winter of Kislev, a month of renewal and introspection, this is a perfect read. 

L’Dor V’Dor: Books on Generations, Family, and Continuity

At Hanukkah, we come together with our families to think about Jewish communities present and past. This year inaugurates Exploring Judaism’s L’Dor V’Dor Oral History Essay Contest; you can find out more, and submit your essay, here. To think more about these themes, check out these books: 

People of the Book: A Novel by Geraldine Brooks

Best book for exploring Jewish history and continuity.  

This novel beautifully follows the journey of the Sarajevo Haggadah across the generations. When rare book expert Hanna Heath is entrusted with its conservation, she finds within it tiny pieces of evidence of lives past—insect wings, white hairs, and wine stains. Each new finding takes her deeper into the manuscript’s history. The book becomes a meditation on Jewish continuity. It’s a reminder of how layered our lives are, and how current choices are informed by those who came before us. 

All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor

Best book for a classic story about family. 

A classic for a reason, this cozy children’s book follows five sisters growing up in New York’s Lower East Side at the turn of the century. They celebrate the Jewish holidays, explore the city together, and learn basic life lessons while having fun and learning what it truly is to be family. It’s a warm, nostalgic reminder that small, everyday acts—lighting candles, sharing meals, telling stories—are how Jewish tradition travels across the generations.

Songs For the Brokenhearted by Ayelet Tsabari

Best book that explores a slice of Jewish history not often told.

How well do we really know our mothers? Who were they before they had children? Tsabari has crafted a beautiful story of a mother and daughter that spans decades. Zohara lives in NYC and has always chafed against her mother’s Yemeni Jewish roots and culture. When she left Israel years ago, she never looked back—but then she got a call that her mother had died, and went back home without a return flight booked. Slowly, she starts to learn more about her mother, the family secrets she never knew, and the culture against which she had always struggled.

Finding Light in Kislev

Kislev teaches that darkness is not always final. It is where dreams are born, where hope takes root, and where light grows. Whether through stories, reflection, or bringing more light into the world, this month invites us to trust that renewal is on its way. If themes of L’Dor V’Dor resonate with you this season, Exploring Judaism is seeking personal essays on the topic of continuity and change in Conservative/Masorti Judaism. Like the flames of Kislev, your voice can light the way for someone else.