According to Sefer Yetzirah, each month of the Jewish year has a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, a zodiac sign, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, a sense, and a controlling limb of the body that correspond to it.
Tevet is the tenth of the twelve months of the Jewish calendar.
Tevet begins with the last days of Chanukah (which climax with its culminating, eighth day–Zot Chanukah). Its tenth day–the tenth day of the tenth month (“the tenth shall be holy to G-d”)–is a fast day, in commemoration of the siege of Jerusalem, the beginning of the destruction of the Temple.
The four fast-days which commemorate the destruction of the Temple are (in the order of the year) the 17th of Tamuz (the 4th month), the 9th of Av (the 5th month), the 3rd of Tishrei (the 7th month), and the 10th of Tevet (the 10th month). Of these four days (in their respective months) the prophet says: “the fast of the fourth [month], and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth shall [in the future] be for the House of Judah for joy and happiness and holidays.”
The sum of the four numbers–4, 5 7, 10–is 26, the value of G-d’s ineffable Name of mercy, Havayah. (The four days of the four months are 17 [of Tamuz], 9 [of Av], 3 [of Tishrei], and 10 [of Tevet]. 17 plus 9 = 26; 3 plus 10 = 13, the value of the word echad [“one”]. 26 and 13 are thus the numerical value of Havayah echad [“Havayah is one”]. 26 plus 13 = 39. 26 [the value of the months] plus 39 [the value of the days] = 65 = Adnut).
The four numbers possess an orderly numerical progression, with finite differences of 1, 2, 3. The following three numbers in the progression–14, 19, 25–equal 58–chen (“grace”). Together with 26–Havayah–the first 7 numbers of the progression (“all sevens are dear”) equal Chanoch (whose name, from the word for “education” and “initiation,” is an acronym for “the grace of Havayah”), the seventh (“dear”) generation from Adam.
All of the fast days, when observed properly, draw down Divine grace from the ultimate source of mercy, G-d’s Name Havayah. The epitome of this process (in the order of the year, as in the words of the prophet quoted above) is on the tenth of Tevet (in the secret of “the end [final fast-day of the year] is wedged in the beginning [of the events which led to the destruction]”). By the Divine grace, the third, eternal Temple is built, first in the heart of Israel, thereafter to become physically manifest on earth.
Letter: Ayin (ע)
The letter ayin means “eye.” The month of Tevet is the month of the rectification and nullification of the “evil eye.” The word Tevet itself comes from tov, “good,” referring to tov ayin, “the goodly eye” (the source of the power of blessing, as it is said: “the goodly eye shall bless”). This rectification begins with the gazing at the Chanukah candles (especially when they are complete on the eighth day).
All destructive process begins with the “evil eye” of hatred, the hatred of the profane to the holy (the secret of ten, the holy number, as mentioned above). From hatred comes anger, the fire of destruction. The middle letter of ka’as, “anger,” is the letter ayin. The negative ka’as must first be rectified to its positive correspondent, as will be explained presently.
Mazal: Capricorn (Gedi, the kid)
Our sages teach us that at the age of ten (an allusion to the tenth month, the level of ten in general) a child “jumps like a goat.” (Midrash Kohelet) The playful nature of jumping up and down “like a goat” reflects an important stage in the growing-up process. The month of Tevet, the month of the tribe of Dan, relates to the growing-up process, from a state of immaturity to a state of maturity.
Immaturity is characterized by the “evil eye,” while maturity is characterized by the “good eye.” Gedi = 17 = tov, “good” (the “good eye”). One must play (and jump up and down like a goat) in order to rectify and sweeten the anger latent in ones animal soul.
The tribe of Dan represents the initial state of immaturity in the soul that “grows-up” during the month of Tevet. Dan means “to judge.” Initially,