Today is the first day of the month of Sivan, which the Torah simply calls the “third month,” as months are counted from Nissan. The word “Sivan” is of Babylonian origin, like many of the names of the months in the Jewish calendar.
Rosh Chodesh Sivan is always observed for one day, since the preceding month, Iyar, is always incomplete. The month of Sivan itself is always full, lasting thirty days.
It was in Sivan that the people of Israel received the Torah at Mount Sinai, and the holiday of Shavuot is the main event of the month, imparting special sanctity to the entire month. It is believed that on Rosh Chodesh Sivan, the Jews came to Sinai and encamped there; the Torah states this as follows: “In the third month after the children of Israel went out of the land of Egypt, on this very day, they came to the Sinai desert” (Shemot 19:1).
The zodiac sign of the month is Gemini, which many see as an allusion to Moshe and Aaron, who were equal in importance and to whom the Torah was granted specifically in this month.
Many important events in Jewish history occurred specifically in the month of Sivan. In this month, the founder of Chassidism, the Baal Shem Tov, passed from the material world, and a year later, the leadership and title of Leader of the Generation was accepted by the Rebbe DovBer, known as the Maggid of Mezeritch. Also in the month of Sivan, the nesius (the title of Rebbe and leadership of his generation) was accepted by the third Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel, also known as the Tzemach Tzedek.
In the Holy Land, the first twelve days of Sivan are different from all the others. A special sanctity applies to them (though lesser than on festival days). Outside Eretz Yisrael, however, it is customary not to fast and to omit Tachanun from the prayer only until Isru Chag, i.e., until the 8th of Sivan inclusive (the 6th and 7th of Sivan are holidays in the diaspora).
The Dnipro Jewish Community invites everyone to join the prayers on this day and to hear the Torah reading in honor of Rosh Chodesh Sivan. The synagogue address is 4 Sholem Aleichem Street.
