This holiday is intriguing in that there isn't much description about observances on this day but at the same time it is the happiest of all the holidays. This holiday is known for being the night that unmarried women would all wear white dresses and go and dance in a field. Men would come and they would instantly see who is their soul mate and find his wife. It makes sense that this holiday would fall now on the 15th of Av after we just had our saddest day of the Jewish calendar: the 9th of Av. Just as a ball rolling down a hill is found in nature- so too is that idea in a spiritual sense. In order to grow and be on a whole new higher level, we need to go down first. A descend is necessary for an ascent. So right after our saddest day when we mourn the destruction of our two Temples and many other things, we have this great holiday filled with simcha.
This Tu B'Av I went to a fellow Mayanot alum's wedding to dance and later a shiur on marriage. This is an auspicious time to celebrate in simchas so I was so happy to be able to help celebrate with her along with other friends. It was a beautiful wedding and the kallah was stunning =) May we all be able to dance at eachothers weddings and simchas in Jerusalem soon!
Since the nights are longer now, we are meant to increase our Torah learning especially today- and reading this blog was a start!
Happy Tu B'Av!
to learn more about this holiday... http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/53680/jewish/15th-of-Av.htm
The first wedding of my class happened on Monday Night - Tu B'Av actually! AND he married a girl that was also in our Kindergarten class! AND her last name (and his) are Schwartz. Everyone's wondering if she's going to hyphenate (Schwartz-Schwartz??? HA!)
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