In the Third Month..

The Alef Kabbala Group (8 May 07) explored a discourse by the Lubavitcher Rebbe entitled "In the Third Month.." 5729, said in 1969. This discourse discusses the importance of Rosh Chodesh Sivan, the New Moon of Sivan, which leads to the Giving of the Torah and Shavuot on 6 Sivan. The discourse focuses on a question raised by Tosafot (Shabbat 86a 'uchetiv') and explores the two dimensions of selflessness and self in the receiving of the Torah. On the one hand to receive the Torah the self should be nullified; on the other hand, the goal is to make the self and the physical reality of the person's life, into a dwelling for the Divine.