Bachodesh Hashlishi 5729 part 1/4 (Se'if 1-3)

Welcome to a new מאמר, as we approach the season of מתן תורה and שבועות!The מאמר is based on the פסוק that begins the saga of מתן תורה, which tells us that the אין came to the סיני desert on ראש חודש סיון.In his מאמר, the אלטער רבי offers two explanations as to why this date is significant: 1) ראש חודש is when the moon is at its smallest point, representing ביטול - self-nullification. 2) ראש חודש סיון is when we have finished refining our root emotions throughout the process of ספירת העומר.The רבי shows how these two explanations correspond to the two (opposite) prerequisite preparations that one must have before receiving the תורה: both ביטול, and שלימות - self-perfection.Being that the whole novelty of מתן תורה was that now a איד who learns תורה transcends him/herself and is fully connected with Hashem, we understand why ביטול is a necessary preparation. But why is self-perfection necessary? And, how do these two opposites co-exist?!Stay tuned...