22 Kislev
- There is a custom to set-up one's Chanukah Menorah 2 days prior to the beginning of Chanukah.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Eliezer Ashkenazi. Famed traveler to many Jewish communities of Europe and the Sephardic countries in the 1500s. Also wrote commentaries on books of the Tanach and Talmud.
- 20th Yahrzeit of Rav Sholom Schwadron, the Maggid of Yerushalaim. I had the privilege of hearing him speak on numerous occasions. He had a very unique personality and style.
23 Kislev
- On November 15, 1348 accusations that Jews were responsible for the Black Plague led to anit-Jewish rioting that then spread across much of Europe.
24 Kislev
- Yahrzeit of Rav Chaim Chizkiyahu Medini, author of Sdei Chemed and encyclopedia of Talmudic topics. There was an interesting controversy about the propriety of spelling the name of his word שדי חמד because of the possibility that it would get confused with a name of God. He believed that he merited his great Torah knowledge because he refused to defend his honor when it meant besmirching the name of another.
25 Kislev
- The mnemonic כ"ח נער"ה - שיר"ה indicates the relationship between the day of the week on which Chanukah falls out and the day on which Rosh Hashana began. If the year is כ-כסדרן או ח-חסר (meaning that Cheshvan has 29 days) then the first נ-נר (candle) of Chanukah will fall on the same day of the week as ער"ה-ערב ראש השנה, the day preceding Rosh Hashana. If the year is ש-שלם (that Cheshvan has 30 days) then יחול, it will fall out on ר"ה - ראש השנה the same day of the week as Rosh Hashana.
- Chanukah begins on Tuesday night 22% of the time.
- Unlike most time-bound Mitzvos found in the Torah, the Mitzva of Chaukah candles is the same for women as for men. Many have the custom that women do not work while the candles are burning, which makes it a good opportunity for the men to pitch in with some help around the house.
- The custom of eating donuts is found already in the writings of the father of the Ramba"m who lived around 1,000 years ago is Fez, Morocco.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Yaakov Ettlinger who passed away in 1872. Wrote important commentary on a number of Talmudic tractates as well as on halachic topics.
26 Kislev
- Yahrzeit of Rav Avraham ben Dovid, better known as the Raavad, a prolific Rishon, best known for his comments on the Rambam.
27 Kislev
- The Chanukah candles must be lit prior to the Shabbos candles and remain lit until half an hour past nightfall. As such, one should ensure that he/she has completed the Shabbos preparations early.
- Yahrzeit of Rav Chaim Tzchernowitz, author of a number of significant CHassidic works, most notably Sidduro Shel Shabbos.
28 Kislev
- Many have the custom to daven Mincha earlier than usual so that they finish Seuda Shlishis early and do not run the risk of davening Maariv late and thereby delaying the lighting of Chanuka candles
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