Related reading: Nisan Month Calendar and Tishrei Monthly Calendar.
A Kislev monthly calendar should answer the user's question immediately: when Rosh Chodesh Kislev falls, when Hanukkah begins, which Torah portions are read on the Shabbatot of the month, and how the month can become a short family learning journey. This page is designed for online reading, print, or PDF export, with Hebrew and Gregorian dates that update according to the selected year.
Kislev Calendar At A Glance
Kislev usually falls in November-December on the Gregorian calendar. It may have 29 or 30 days, so a Kislev calendar should be generated for a specific Hebrew year rather than treated as a fixed template. Every year includes Rosh Chodesh Kislev, the beginning of Hanukkah on 25 Kislev, and Shabbatot from the book of Genesis, usually around the stories of Jacob and Joseph.
The page should show, at the top:
- A Hebrew-year or Gregorian-year selector.
- A monthly grid with Hebrew and Gregorian dates.
- Markers for Shabbat and the weekly Torah portion.
- Clear highlighting for 25 Kislev and the days of Hanukkah.
- A print or PDF button.
- A link to the Hanukkah/Kislev quiz.
What Should Appear In The Kislev Calendar?
A strong calendar is more than a list of dates. It helps the user understand what matters this month, what is coming up, and how to prepare. The recommended structure layers date, Shabbat, holiday, Torah portion, and a short learning prompt.
| Hebrew date | Calendar marker | Content note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kislev | Rosh Chodesh Kislev | Opening the month and moving from Cheshvan toward the month of Hanukkah |
| Shabbatot in Kislev | Weekly Torah portions | Usually Toldot, Vayetzei, Vayishlach, Vayeshev and sometimes Miketz, depending on the year |
| 19 Kislev | Major Hasidic date | Can be marked as a learning point about light, Torah and inner renewal, depending on the audience |
| 25 Kislev | Hanukkah | The beginning of the eight days of Hanukkah; the first candle is lit the evening before 25 Kislev |
| 30 Kislev, when present | Rosh Chodesh Tevet | Sometimes falls during Hanukkah and should be clearly marked |
In Hebrew year 5787, for example, 1 Kislev falls on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and 25 Kislev falls on Shabbat, December 5, 2026. The first Hanukkah candle is lit on the previous evening, Friday night, December 4, 2026. A live site should pull dates from a reliable, updating calendar source.
Rosh Chodesh Kislev
Rosh Chodesh Kislev opens a month that begins quietly in early winter and gradually moves toward Hanukkah. For someone searching for a Kislev calendar, the first need is practical: which day Rosh Chodesh falls on, whether it is one or two days in the selected year, and what the first Shabbat of the month is.
Educationally, Rosh Chodesh is a natural moment for one simple question: what do I want to add this month? Kislev is especially suited to a small and concrete answer: a short piece of learning, a kind action, or a family moment around a candle or a weekly portion.
Hanukkah Inside The Kislev Calendar
Hanukkah begins on 25 Kislev and lasts eight days. In some years the holiday continues into Tevet, so the Kislev calendar should show the full sequence rather than only the first day. This allows the user to see when the first candle is lit, when Shabbat Hanukkah falls, and when Rosh Chodesh Tevet overlaps with the holiday.
Recommended Hanukkah elements:
- A visual marker for each day of Hanukkah.
- Links to Hanukkah, candle lighting order, and Hanukkah blessings.
- A gentle reminder to check candle-lighting times by location and custom.
- A short quiz question for each day: miracle, custom, Torah portion, or key concept.
Torah Portions In Kislev
The weekly portions in Kislev vary by year, but the month usually sits in the heart of Genesis. Around Kislev, users often meet Toldot, Vayetzei, Vayishlach, Vayeshev, and sometimes Miketz. This is unusually rich ground for a Bible quiz: names, dreams, journeys, family tension, choice, and reconciliation.
The calendar can show a "weekly portion" row for each Shabbat:
- Toldot: Jacob and Esau, Isaac's blessings.
- Vayetzei: Jacob's dream and the journey to Haran.
- Vayishlach: Jacob's meeting with Esau and the name Israel.
- Vayeshev: Joseph and his brothers, dreams and jealousy.
- Miketz: Pharaoh's dreams and Joseph's rise in Egypt, sometimes near Hanukkah.
Printable Version And PDF
Families, teachers, and activity leaders often need a calendar they can place on the refrigerator, hand out in class, or bring to the Shabbat table. A printable version should therefore be clean and practical.
Suggested print structure:
- Title: Kislev Monthly Calendar.
- Selected Hebrew and Gregorian year.
- Day grid with Hebrew and Gregorian dates.
- Shabbat, Hanukkah and Rosh Chodesh markers.
- Weekly Torah portion for each Shabbat.
- One "light question" for each week.
- QR code or link to the Hanukkah/Kislev quiz.
Hanukkah/Kislev Quiz Idea
Quiz name: "Kislev: Adding Light".
Suggested structure:
- Stage one: Kislev dates, Rosh Chodesh and Hanukkah.
- Stage two: the Jacob and Joseph portions.
- Stage three: family questions about light, home, tradition and memory.
Sample opening question: Which holiday begins on 25 Kislev and lasts eight days?
Sample reflection question: What can we learn from adding one more candle each night?
Call to action: Start the Hanukkah/Kislev quiz and choose a track for children, families or classrooms.
Recommended User Experience
To work well on mobile and in print, the page should be built as a clear utility:
- Year selector at the top.
- "Today in Kislev" card when the current month is Kislev.
- Monthly grid with color markers for Hanukkah and Shabbat.
- Quick links to Hanukkah, weekly Torah portion, Shabbat times and the Hebrew calendar.
- Prominent print button.
- Option to show or hide quiz questions.
FAQ
When does Kislev begin?
Kislev begins on 1 Kislev. The Gregorian date changes every year, so it should be checked in a Hebrew-Gregorian calendar for the selected year.
How many days are in Kislev?
Kislev may have 29 or 30 days, depending on the structure of the Hebrew year. That is why a Kislev calendar should be calculated separately for each year.
When does Hanukkah begin?
Hanukkah begins on 25 Kislev and lasts eight days. The first candle is lit on the evening before 25 Kislev.
Which Torah portions are read in Kislev?
Kislev usually includes portions from Genesis: Toldot, Vayetzei, Vayishlach, Vayeshev and sometimes Miketz. The exact sequence depends on the year.
Can the Kislev calendar be printed?
Yes. A print or PDF version should include Hebrew and Gregorian dates, Shabbatot, Torah portions, Hanukkah and short quiz questions.
How can the Kislev calendar connect to a Bible quiz?
Each week can include one knowledge question about the Torah portion and one reflection question about Hanukkah or the idea of light. This turns the calendar into a family learning tool.
Image And Illustration Ideas
- A navy-and-gold Kislev calendar with 25 Kislev highlighted.
- A menorah glowing near a window with a subtle Jerusalem background.
- A clean printable month grid with room for a weekly quiz question.
- A family illustration around Hanukkah candles with an open book of Genesis.
Recommended Schema
Use Article, BreadcrumbList and FAQ Page schema. If the page includes a structured print or PDF action, add a short HowTo schema: select a year, open the Kislev calendar, highlight Hanukkah and Torah portions, and print the calendar.
Source And License Note
This page is original content based on the content brief. The Kotel calendar was reviewed as a benchmark for a Hebrew-Gregorian calendar experience, Hebcal was used to verify Hebrew/Gregorian dates and examples for Kislev 5787, and Sefaria was used as general background for Genesis Torah portions. No protected text was copied and no full liturgical text is included. Annual dates, candle-lighting times, Torah portion splits, and Israel/Diaspora differences should be loaded from a reliable, updating calendar source at publication time.