Shevat (Hebrew: שְׁבָט, StandardŠəvatTiberianŠəḇāṭ ; from AkkadianŠabātu) is the fifth month of the civil year starting in Tishre (or Tishri) and the eleventh month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar starting in Nisan. It is a winter month of 30 days. Shevat usually occurs in January–February on the Gregorian calendar.
The name of the month was taken from the Akkadian language during the Babylonian Captivity. The assumed Akkadian origin of the month is Šabātu meaning strike that refers to the heavy rains of the season.
In Jewish sources the month is first mentioned by this name in prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 1).
28 Shevat (circa 134 BC) - Antiochus V abandoned his siege of Jerusalem and his plans for the city's destruction. This day was observed as a holiday in Hasmonean times. [1] (Megilat Taanit)
