According to the Kabbalistic text Sefer Yetzirah, every month of the Jewish calendar is associated with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, a sense (one of the five senses or an emotion), a controlling limb of the body, a zodiac sign and one of the twelve tribes of Israel. These associations give us important clues as to how to live in tune with the spiritual energies of each month, and can help each of us prepare our own personal to-do list for the soul.

Kislev is one of the most eagerly awaited months in the Jewish calendar, for it is in this month that Chanukah begins (Chanukah, which ends on the 2^nd of Tevet, is the only holiday that overlaps into two months).

The word "Kislev" derives from one of the Hebrew words for "trust." Trust can take both an active and passive form, and Kislev embodies both these aspects.

Kislev, however, is also a month associated with sleep (see below), which reflects passive trust. We are only able to let down our guard every night and drift off into sleep because we believe - consciously or not - that there is Someone watching over us and protecting us.

What is the basis for this trust? In Psalm 145, King David, a master of trust in God, writes: "God supports all the fallen, and lifts up all the bent over." In these anxious times, Kislev's message of trust in God can be especially comforting - and we shouldn't hesitate to reach out for this means of support.

A "Cure" for Fear of Flying
I've just returned from a trip to France and the United States, where I had to spend a fair amount of time in airplanes and airports. What with the events of September 11 and the tragic crash of another American Airlines plane in November, I wasn't surprised to hear that many people are now afraid to fly.

Yet there was something that did surprise me. Whereas my flight from Paris to New York on Air France and my flights within the United States on American carriers were more than half empty, my El Al flights from Tel Aviv to Paris and from New York back to Tel Aviv were filled to 100 percent capacity.

I can't speak for all Israelis, but from those I encountered during my travels - from the most religious to the most staunchly secular - the message was the same: there's no point in worrying since we're all in God's hands.

1. Close your eyes and become aware of your breath. Slowly inhale and exhale 10 times, or until you feel relaxed.

2. Visualize that you are seated on an airplane. You have lots of leg room and space to stretch out, so you are perfectly comfortable. Feel your body begin to relax as you settle into this seat.

3. From the window of the airplane you can see white, billowing clouds cushioning the bottom half of the airplane. These clouds are like a big fluffy blanket that is comforting you and protecting you.

4. Now become aware that underneath the plane and underneath the clouds there is yet another layer of support for you - God. Let yourself feel the plane and the clouds become enveloped by God's comforting presence.

5. Visualize that you are now sleeping - safe and sound - in a cradle that is being gently rocked back and forth by your loving Parent.

6. If you're doing this exercise in the airplane - pleasant dreams. If you're doing it elsewhere, continue to let yourself "sleep" until you feel calm and relaxed. Open your eyes when you are ready.

Tossing and turning is one clue that this trust is lacking. But our dreams also offer important insights into our true inner state.

When you wake up, immediately jot down the main points of the dream and feelings you associate with it (joy, anxiety, etc.). As no one else will see your journal, you can be perfectly honest about both the subject matter of your dreams and your emotional responses to them.

Learning how to interpret all the symbols in your dreams is beyond the scope of this web site, but for this exercise our main interest is to gauge the emotional level of your dreams. After you've recorded several of your dreams, try to see if there is any pattern or any one area of your conscious life that is dominating your dreams.

2. "Think Good, It Will Be Good"
"Think good, it will be good," is a famous Chassidic teaching that both psychologists and healers agree with. How we occupy our mind during the evening hours can have an impact on how well we sleep - and how we feel when we wake up the next morning.

For this reason, it is often recommended to read or listen to inspirational material right before a person goes to bed. One advantage of this sort of material is that it helps calm the mind, which in turn helps to induce restful sleep. Another benefit is that when the mind is relaxed when we go to bed, it can more effortlessly sort through problems while we're sleeping. The result, sometimes, is that when we wake up the next day, solutions to yesterday's tough problems are now waiting for us along with the morning paper.

We are fortunate to live in a time when there is a great deal of Torah literature available in English - and there are many books that are designed to be read just a few pages at a time, which is perfect for people with busy schedules.

When the belly is full - i.e. satisfied with its portion - it sleeps tranquilly. On the other hand, when the belly is constantly driven by a lust for food - when it is always "dreaming" about the next meal - it can sap a person's vitality and distract the person from pursuing more worthwhile goals.

Eating plays an important role in our holidays - and Chanukah is no exception. Yet while we are enjoying the potato latkes and the soufganiot (jelly doughnuts), it's important to remember that Chanukah, in its essence, is a spiritual holiday.

During Chanukah, jot down all the activities you participate in that week (include work, but please don't do any writing on Shabbat) and all the foods you eat during regular meals and snacks. Note your reactions to both the activities and the food. Do they leave you feeling satisfied, empty, or maybe even sick?

It might help to organize your notes by using the table below, so that you can see if any patterns emerge. If you should discover that you are using food to fill the void created by unmet emotional or spiritual needs, you might want to consult with your doctor on ways to address this issue - and don't forget to also ask God for help.

The Chashmoneans (Maccabees) used bows and arrows to fight their battles against the Syrian-Greek army, but this was not a battle to conquer foreign territory or subjugate other peoples. Rather, they were fighting to preserve their right to continue to perform the mitzvot of the Torah so that holiness could continue to exist in the world.

Kislev's keshet, therefore, should remind us to use our "arsenal of weapons" wisely. Before we go to "war" with another person, we should take the time to examine our true motives. Are we truly trying to right a wrong and restore peace to the world, or are we merely engaging in a power struggle that will ultimately benefit no one?

Are you currently engaged in a "war" with someone, either a recent or long-standing feud? If so, this month take the time to truthfully examine your motives - and your choice of weapons.

Kind words are often more effective than harsh ones, and in the long run a win-win solution might prove to be more beneficial than a temporary one-sided win. If you are uncertain that your efforts to make peace will meet with success, ask God to help you. Peace is Judaism's most cherished value, and eventually your efforts will certainly be met with success.

It is no coincidence, therefore, that Benjamin is the tribe associated with the month of Kislev, because nowhere else in the world do we experience Divine Providence more fully than in Eretz Yisroel. Even the secular Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir once commented, "Anyone who lives in Israel and doesn't believe in miracles isn't being a realist."

Give yourself the best Chanukah gift in the world: Come to Jerusalem. This year.