Rabbi & Rebbetzin Corner

Shalom Mishpocha,

        February, the second month of 2026 is here already!! February has 28 days in common years and 29 in leap years, with the 29th day being called the leap day. February is the third and last month of meteorological winter in the Northern Hemisphere. February got its name from the Roman month Februarius, named after the Latin term februum, which means "purification", via the purification ritual Februa held on February 15 (full moon) in the old lunar Roman calendar. The average daily daylight in February is 10.5 hours.

        Monday, February 2nd, 2026, is Groundhog Day. This worldly tradition is big, on an otherwise cold and dreary mid-winter’s day. According to legend, if the groundhog sees his shadow (a sunny morning), there will be six more weeks of winter. He then returns to his den and goes back to sleep. If, however, he does not see his shadow (cloudy days), he plays around outside of his hole for a while. If he does not see his shadow, spring is just around the corner. The Groundhog’s Day comes from German roots. In the early 1800s, German immigrants to America brought the tradition of predicting winter weather on February 2. In their native Germany, they used Hedgehogs to predict the weather. As they settled in the hills of Pennsylvania, they began the tradition of using the Groundhog to predict the arrival of Spring.

        February's full moon will reach peak illumination at 5:09 p.m. EST on February 1st, 2026 when the moon's orbit places it directly opposite the sun in Earth's sky, making it appear fully lit from our perspective. The February full moon is often called the "Snow Moon", in reference to the heavy snowfall that often coats the ground that time of year.

        Sunday, February 8th, 2026 is football Super Bowl 60. It will take place at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, which is home to the San Francisco 49ers. The game will kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on NBC. The Superbowl is the most watched event in the U.S. Last year, over 127.7 million people around the world watched it. Some people watch the game, while others tune in for the commercials or the halftime show are the big attractions.

February is a relatively quite month for us, comprised of the biblical months of Shevat and Adar. Tu B'Shevat for the year 2026 is celebrated/observed on sundown of Sunday, February 1st ending at sundown on Monday, February 2. Tu B’Shvat is a Rabbinical Jewish holiday (not biblical) occurring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. It is also called Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot, literally "New Year of the Trees". The day is celebrated in modern Israel as an ecological awareness day, and trees are planted in celebration. This day is akin to our Arbor Day celebrated in April!

Monday, February 16th, 2026, is Presidents' Day, officially Washington's Birthday at the federal governmental level! It is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the third Monday of February. It is often celebrated to honor all those who served as presidents of the United States and, since 1879, has been the federal holiday honoring Founding Father George Washington, who led the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolutionary War, presided at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and served as the first U.S. president from 1789 to 1797. Washingtons actual birthday is February 22nd. President Abraham Lincoln's Birthday, February 12, was never a federal holiday, but nearly half the state governments have officially renamed their observances "Presidents' Day", "Washington and Lincoln Day", or other such designations.

February is Black History Month, an annual celebration that honors the achievements and contributions of African Americans throughout history. Black History Month originated in the United States as "Negro History Week," which was established in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. The week was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and Frederick Douglass (February 14), both of whom played significant roles in the history of African Americans. The week gained popularity and was expanded to a month-long celebration in 1976 during the United States Bicentennial, with President Gerald Ford urging Americans to recognize the contributions of Black Americans.

Black History Month serves as a time to reflect on the central role of African Americans in U.S. history, acknowledging their struggles, achievements, and contributions across various fields, including politics, science, culture, and civil rights. It aims to educate the public about the rich history and culture of African Americans and to inspire pride within the community. Black History Month is more than just a month on the calendar; it is a movement that encourages ongoing dialogue about race, equality, and the contributions of African Americans to society. It serves as a reminder of the importance of inclusivity and representation in history and education. As God’s word reminds us:

Psalm 133 (TLV). A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard—Aaron’s beard—coming down on the collar of his robes. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, coming down upon the mountains of Zion. For there Adonai commanded the blessing—life forevermore!

Blessings and Shalom,

Rabbi and Rebbetzin Carlson