Tomorrow, Friday, is a special day on the Jewish calendar. It is Tu B’Av or the 15th of the month of Av. We know of Tisha B’Av, the day on which the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed. But what is Tu B’Av?

According to tradition, Tu B’Av is the day on which the sin of the spies (their lack of belief in God and themselves to enter the Land of Israel when the people first reached the shored of the Jordan River) was forgiven. The people, therefore, are now prepared to enter the Land of Israel.

Midrash connects Tu B’Av to Yom Kippur. On Yom Kippur God forgave the people over the sin of the Golden Calf and the second Tablets of the Commandments were given to replace the first.

Since both days represent the purification from sin, earlier generations did not hesitate to regard them as days of festivity and dancing. On both, according to the Talmud, “the daughters of Israel would dress in white and go out into the field.”

In other words, the evening after Yom Kippur and the week after Tisha B’Av were designated for the making of marriages, joy, celebration and life continuity!

What will you do to celebrate?

Shabbat shalom,

—Reb Steve