Tevet

Tevet (Hebrew: טֵבֵת) is the tenth month of the civil year and the fourth month of the ecclesiastical year in the Hebrew calendar. It has 29 days and typically falls in December–January on the Gregorian calendar. The name Tevet is derived from the Babylonian month Tebetu (Tebet), reflecting ancient Mesopotamian influence on Hebrew month names.

In Jewish practice, Tevet is notable for the fast of Tzom Tevet on the 10th day of the month. This minor fast recalls the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II and the subsequent destruction of the First Temple. The fast runs from dawn to night and is postponed to Sunday if it falls on Shabbat.

Tevet often lies in the winter season for the Northern Hemisphere and can overlap with Hanukkah, since Hanukkah begins in Kislev and may extend into Tevet depending on the calendar for a given year. The month can also feature observances related to the monthly cycle of the Jewish calendar, such as Rosh Chodesh if Tevet begins on a weekday and is celebrated with customary prayers in some communities.

Length and placement of Tevet are fixed within the Hebrew calendar pattern, though its exact Gregorian dates shift year to year due to the calendar’s lunisolar structure. As part of the broader calendar system, Tevet serves as both a time marker in the winter season and a period with specific historical and religious associations.