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Wikipedia's first sentence called it "season in the jewish calendar". Today it says "period of six to eight weeks each year". We saved the article's opening at 5 moments between 2015 and 2025, and every claim links the exact revision.

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The opening as it read in 2015

Shovavim (Hebrew: שובבי"ם ) is an acrostic for the Jewish parshioth of " Shemot ", " Va'era ", " Bo ", " B'Shallach ", " Yitro " and " Mishpatim ".¹ The period in which those portions are read typically falls around January-February.² Shovavim is a season in the Jewish calendar when the Kabbalists teach that it is auspicious to repent of sins. During this 6 week time period in the Hebrew calendar , it is customary to be more careful not to violate any of the sex-related transgressions (such as masturbation) commanded in the Torah . Some have the customs of studying laws relating to such transgressions, fasting and giving extra tzedakah during this time, and of reciting Selichos and other Kabbalistic prayers and tikkunim (Kabbalistic prayers or meditations) designed to counteract their harmful effects. There are those Jews who have a custom to fast every Monday and Thursday during these weeks. The origin to these customs is based on Jewish Kabbalistic teachings and therefore Sephardic and Hassidic Jews are more likely to follow these customs than their Ashkenazic counterparts. There are extra prayers added called "Tikkun Shovavim" during these weeks.³ During a Jewish leap-year one sees references to an eight-week period called "Shovavim Tat", derived by adding the next two portions, " Terumah " and " Tetzaveh ", to the list.⁴

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The opening as it stood in 2010

Shovavim is a season in the Jewish calendar, the weeks when the parshioth of Shmos until Mishpatim , the first six parshioth of the Book of Exodus , are read in the synagogue, when the Kabbalists teach that it is auspicious to repent of sins. Some have the customs of fasting and giving extra tzedakah during this time, and of reciting Selichos and other Kabbalistic prayers and tikkunim . When it is a leap-year, two more weeks are added, the readings of Terumah and Tetzaveh . The word Shovavim (Shin, Vav, Bet, Bet, Yud, Mem) is an acrostic for the names of the parshioth read during this period: Shin - Shmot Vav - Vaera Bet - Bo Bet - B'shalach Yud - Yitro Mem - Mishpatim v t e

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The opening as it stood in 2020 7 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear

Shovavim ( ) is a Hebrew acronym for the Jewish parshioth ( Torah portions) of " Shemot ", " Va'era ", " Bo ", " B'Shallach ", " Yitro " and " Mishpatim ". The Hebrew word that is formed from the initials of these names means "mischief-makers." This word appears in Jeremiah 3:22, which begins: "Return oh mischief makers" ( ). The period in which these portions are read typically falls around Tevet - Shevat in the Hebrew Calendar (corresponding to January–February).

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The opening as it stood on October 6, 2023

Shovavim ( ) is a period of six to eight weeks each year, in which some Kabbalists teach one should focus on repenting for one's sins, particularly sexual sins. The name shovavim is a Hebrew acronym for the Jewish parshioth ( Torah portions) of " Shemot ", " Va'era ", " Bo ", " B'Shallach ", " Yitro " and " Mishpatim ". The period in which these portions are read typically falls around Tevet - Shevat in the Hebrew calendar (corresponding to January–February). During a Jewish leap-year, this period is extended to an eight-week sequence called " Shovavim Tat ", derived by adding the next two portions, " Terumah " and " Tetzaveh ", to the list. The acronym shovavim also forms a Hebrew word, meaning "mischief-makers." This word appears in Jeremiah 3:22, which begins: "Return oh mischief makers" ( שׁוּבוּ בָּנִים שׁוֹבָבִים ). Thus the name shovavim is symbolic of the repentance which one is exhorted to do in this period.

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The opening as it stood in 2025

Part of the Hebrew calendar An advertisement for Shovavim, prayer featuring the ta'anit (fast) in Zikhron Moshe synagogue in Jerusalem . Shovavim ( Hebrew : שובבי״ם ) is a period of six to eight weeks each year, in which some Kabbalists teach one should focus on repenting for one's sins, particularly sexual sins. The term shovavim is a Hebrew acronym consisting of the initial letters of the parshioth ( Torah portions) of " Shemot ", " Va'era ", " Bo ", " Beshalach ", " Yitro " and " Mishpatim ". The period in which these portions are read typically falls around Tevet - Shevat in the Hebrew calendar (corresponding to January–February). During a Hebrew calendrical leap year , this period is extended to an eight-week sequence called " Shovavim Tat ", derived by adding the next two portions, " Terumah " and " Tetzaveh ", to the list. When read as a Hebrew word, shovavim means "mischief-makers." This word appears in Jeremiah 3:22, which begins: "Return, mischief makers" ( שׁוּבוּ בָּנִים שׁוֹבָבִים ). The name shovavim is thus symbolic of the repentance which one is exhorted to do in this period.

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