[m., pl. “Kochavim”]; a star, one of the heavenly bodies created by HaShem on the fourth “Day of Creation” and placed at a great distance from the earth, to provide additional light at night, adding to that provided by the moon, the “Maor HaKatan,” the “Small Light.” Another purpose they serve is to display the infinite might of HaShem, Who Alone knows them all, as it says “The One Who counts them out by number; He knows the name of each.” Whereas they are uncountable by a finite human being, as HaShem said to Avraham in Bereshit (15:5), “…look at the heavens, and count the stars, if you can count them…”
