We should contemplate the above message, explaining the significance of Rosh Chodesh Sivan. The major preparation for the Giving of the Torah begins each year on Rosh Chodesh.
Three Insights into Rosh Chodesh
The significance of Rosh Chodesh is clearly stated in the Torah: “On this day [of Rosh Chodesh] they came to the Sinai desert…and Israel camped there.” The main preparation for the Giving of the Torah—as the Torah continues to detail—then began. The Oral Torah explains an even greater significance: On Rosh Chodesh, G-d saw them “camped there” (in the singular), indicating complete unity, and declared, “Now is the time to give them the Torah.” Chassidus presents its deeper significance (Torah Or, Bachodesh Hashlishi).
We ready ourselves for the Torah by counting the Omer: “Seven weeks shall you count for yourselves” (rectifying another of the seven attributes or character traits each week). On Rosh Chodesh, the Jews entered the third day of the seventh week (i.e., they had rectified the main components of the final attribute—chesed, gevurah, and tiferes of malchus). They could now be considered as having already counted (and rectified) that entire last week—and were therefore ready and fit to receive the Torah.
Rosh Chodesh Sivan, night and Motzei Sivan 6 (Hisvaaduyos, p. 1524).
