The following material is adapted with permission from The Book of Our Heritage by Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov and other sources...
The Month of Kislev
The name "Kislev" is of Babylonian origin.
In the Tanach (Bible), Kislev is referred to as the ninth month, as it is the ninth month after Nissan. Although most famous for having Chanukah within it, Kislev is also a month with significant Biblical happenings.
The first rainbow, observed after the Flood, was seen in Kislev. "And God said: 'This is the sign of the covenant which I set between Me, and yourselves, and between every living being that is with you, unto eternal generations. I have placed my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of a covenant between Me and the Earth.' " "This is the sign of the covenant" - God showed Noah the bow and said to Him: "This is the sign of which I spoke" (Bereishit 9).
Rosh Chodesh Kislev, which refers to the transition day or days between months, consists at times of one day, and at times of two. The preceding month of Cheshvan sometimes consists of twenty nine days, and sometimes of thirty days. In the former instance Rosh Chodesh Kislev consists of one day, which is the first of Kislev; in the latter, of two, with the first day of Rosh Chodesh counting also as the 30th day of Cheshvan, and the second day of Rosh Chodesh counting as the first day of Kislev.
From the days of the Hasmoneans, as long as the Beit Din, also known as the Sanhedrin, or Jewish Supreme Court, sanctified the month through the testimony of witnesses, who testified as to when they had seen the New Moon, where in the sky they had seen the New Moon, and exactly what it looked like, messengers of the Beit Din went out to places distant from Yerushalayim, to make known when the new month had been sanctified.
The Beit Din needed to do this only during months in which festivals occurred, so that people knew on which day to observe the festival. Therefore, when the month of Kislev was sanctified, messengers were sent out, so that people living far from Yerushalayim would know when Chanukah was to begin. Chanukah has the status of a festival, although it is Rabbinic in origin, and not directly mentioned in the Torah.
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The Lights of Chanukah - Laws and Customs
Day1 Rabbi Shmerel of Verchovka
Student of the Baal Shem Tov. 5 Rabbi Shemuel Eliezer Eidels - Maharsha
Talmudic commentator, Rabbi. 8 Rabbi Aharon of Chernobil
Chassidic leader, son of the famous tzaddik Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobil, and the grandson of the tzaddik Rabbi Menachum Nachum of Chernobil.9 Rabbi DovBer of Lubavitch - The Mitteler Rebbe
The second Lubavitch Chabad Rebbe. 10 Rabbi Refael Dabush of Lybia 12 Rabbi Shlomo Luria -the Maharshal
Talmudist13 Ravina son of Rav Huna 14 Reuven ben Yaacov
Son of Jacob the Patriarch. Founder of the Tribe of Reuven.18 Rabbi Baruch of Mezhibuz
Grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, Chassidic leader 18 Rabbi Avraham ben HaRambam
Son of the RAMBAM. 19 Rabbi Dov Ber- The Maggid of Mezritch
Chassidic leader, Kabbalist, successor to the Baal Shem Tov.19 Rabbi Chai Tayeb of Tunisia
Chief rabbi of Tunisia, Kabbalist. 21 Shimon ben Yaakov Avinu
Shimon was the Son of Jacob the Patriarch and Leah the Matriarch. He is the founder of the Tribe of Shimon. 24 Rabbi Avraham Abulafia
Kabbalist 25 Rabbi Chaim Chizkiyahu Medini
halachist, rabbi of Hebron26 Rabbi Avraham ben David (RAVAD III)
Commonly referred to as Ravad. Talmudist, halachist and Kabbalist. 27 Rabbi Shaul Margaliyot of Lublin
Student of the Baal Shem Tov 28 Rabbi Chaim of Chernovitz - The Be'er Mayim Chayim
Chassidic leader, Kabbalist.
Song contains excerpts from the prayer for Rosh Chodesh. It asks Hashem to renew this Chodesh/month for good, blessings, joy and for happiness
