Chodesh Cheshvan has come to teach us the power of humble submission to G*d's will.
The firstborn son of Joseph, Menashe, the Tribal Leader of Cheshvan, broke the Abrahamic family curse of brother vying against brother when he submitted humbly to his grandfather Yacov's cross-handed blessing, which elevated his younger brother Ephraim to the status of first-born.
The humility of submission to G*d's will is the superpower of Cheshvan, ruler of the zodiac sign of Scorpio. This is clearly seen in the Ishmaelites, whose religion of Islam literally means "submission to G*d".
Ibn Ezra tells us that Scorpio is the sign which rules Islam (he also tells us that Aquarius is the constellation of the Israelites, and Leo the constellation of the Christians). Scorpio's legendary intensity, deep loyalty, secrecy (remember how Menashe pretended to be the "translator" between Yosef and his brother in Egypt?), courage, intuition, jealousy, and controlling nature resonate thematically here.
The Hebrew letter for the month of Cheshvan is Nun ( נ ), whose negative aspect appears in the word Nefilah - fall. This is why in the Aleph-Bet structure of the Ashrei prayer, the Nun does not appear, but is alluded to by the next letter, "Somech HaShem l'chol HaNoflim..." G*d supports those who fall.
The planet Mars / Ma'adim is the planetary ruler of Chodesh Cheshvan. The planet Mars moved into the constellation of Scorpio on Wednesday, October 11, where he'll be transiting through Thanksgiving.
Who can fall but the one who is not humbly submitted to G*d? Every Erev Shabbos we bless our sons to be "like Ephraim and Menashe" - meaning, brothers who overcame the family curse by living in peace with G*d's will for their roles.
For the Jewish People, Chodesh Cheshvan holds the promise of the future. HaShem promised never to destroy the world again after the Mabul (the Flood) which is represented by the waters of Cheshvan/Scorpio. Our Sages tell us the inauguration of the Third (Messianic) Temple will occur during Cheshvan. For now - we are prisoners of hope.
"As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you." - Zechariah 9:11-12
גם את בדם בריתך שלחתי אסיריך מבור אין מים בו שובו לבצרון אסירי התקוה גם היום מגיד משנה אשיב לך
May this Chodesh Cheshvan, which began as "Mar" (bitter), end as "Ram" - the highest!
