Rosh Chodesh Sivan is coming...🗓️

We are heading toward Rosh Chodesh Sivan.

The Mashgiach, Rav Moshe Wolfson zt"l, teaches that the first few days of Sivan are powerful and holy days.

Klal Yisrael arrived at Sinai on the first of the month, ביום הזה. The Torah doesn't say ביום ההוא, on that day, but rather hazeh, on this day. Each and every year again we arrive at our own internal Har Sinai.

The Torah says  ויסעו מרפידים ויבואו מדבר סיני - They traveled from Refidim, which symbolizes their weakness in Torah, and they arrived at Midbar Sinai, where they received Torah. 

This was not just a physical journey. It was an emotional and spiritual one, that they internally cleansed themselves and repented for, so they would be ready to arrive at their personal Matan Torah.

Rashi says that just like their arrival at Sinai was with teshuva, their leaving of Refidim was with teshuva. 

And what did they achieve when they arrived? ויחן שם ישראל נגד ההר - He camped there, Yisrael,  before the mountain. The Jewish nation is described in the singular term he rather than the proper term they. Rashi expounds on this with the famous words: כאיש אחד בלב אחד - by the time they got to Har Sinai, they were like one person with one heart.

Teshuva, returning to our Self, inherently connects us to the Self of those around us. They did teshuva and connected to one another and through connecting to one another, they did teshuva.

Similarly, says the Mashgiach, each year when Rosh Chodesh Sivan arrives, we let go of the past. We begin a teshuva process, come closer to one another, preparing ourselves to accept the Torah.

I am wondering if we can even say that כאיש אחד בלב אחד is the ingathering of all the parts of our heart. When they purified, healed, and united as one, they have the capacity to connect to those around them.

And only then can we receive the Torah. Only when there aren't internal battles in our own hearts, only when there isn't aren't external battles with the people around us, only when we're like one man with one heart can we arrive at our internal Har Sinai.

The mazal of the month is תאומים - twins facing each other. This is the month that we must look into the eyes of those around us and connect at a deeper level. This is the month that we aren't only in the growth process ourselves, but are gathered around the mountain in unity to receive the words of Hashem.

That is why the second day of Sivan is called Yom Meyuchas. The day that we were designated as a treasured nation. The day that we were chosen as Hashem's precious ones. Every year on that day, an exceptional love from Hashem comes down and embraces us.

And once we are at peace with ourselves and at peace with those around us, we are automatically at peace with Hashem. Hashem says ואביא אתכם אלי - I brought you close me (Shemos 19:4). Rambam says that it was at that moment that we became Hashem's children. He saw our connection with one another and invited us to become His am segulah - His chosen nation.

קודשא בריך הוא, ואורייתא וישראל חד הוא - Hakadosh Baruch Hu, the Torah and Yisrael became one.

Welcome Home.

Sincerely,

Yocheved

Let's Write...כאיש אחד בלב אחד Take a few slow and deep breaths and imagine yourself standing at the edge of Midbar Sinai. Behind you is Refidim — the place of weakness, distance, exhaustion, disconnection, or struggle. Ahead of you is Har Sinai — the place of connection, truth, unity, and receiving the Torah. Ask yourself: What am I leaving behind as I journey toward my personal Matan Torah? Write freely for several minutes.

Reread your writing and identify different “parts” of yourself that appear in your words. You may notice a fearful part, a critical part, a hopeful part, a lonely part, a hurt part, and more. Underline them, circle them, or highlight them. On a new page, draw a large heart. Around the heart, write the names of people who are part of your journey — people who help shape, support, challenge, or walk beside you as you move toward your personal Matan Torah. Inside the heart, write or draw all the different parts of yourself. Imagine them all gathering together at the foot of Har Sinai. None of them are being rejected. None of them are hated or pushed away. They are all arriving together, finding their place within one heart. Study your heart quietly for a few moments. Notice the people surrounding your heart and the many parts gathered within it.Ask yourself: How is this experience bringing me closer to Hashem and His Torah? Write about it.

5. End with a final reflection: What would it mean to arrive at your personal Har Sinai כאיש אחד בלב אחד — with all the parts of yourself gathered together, connected to others, and connecting to Hashem as one?