The 15th of Av (i.e., Tu B’Av) is the “holiday of romance and love.” Just as Yom Kippur originally celebrated the reconciliation of Israel to the LORD after the sin of the Golden Calf, so Tu B’Av originally celebrated the reconciliation of Israel for the Sin of the Spies. Therefore both the fifteenth of Av and Yom Kippur became joyous times celebrating forgiveness and restoration to the LORD. The Babylonian Talmud (Ta’anit 31a) quotes Shimon ben Gamliel as saying, “Israel had no holidays as joyous as the fifteenth of Av and the Day of Atonement, when the maidens of Israel would go out and dance in the vineyards… What were they saying: Young man, consider whom you choose to be your wife…”
In modern Israel, Tu B’Av is observed as an annual holiday of love and affection (i.e., chag ha-ahavah: חַג הָאַהֲבָה) that is celebrated like “Valentine’s Day” (though it is a much older holiday). However, since it is the “last” festival of the Jewish year, Tu B’Av prophetically pictures our marriage to the Lamb of God (Seh Elohim), Yeshua our beloved Messiah. On a soon-coming day those who belong to him and are faithful to follow his ways will be blessed with the unspeakable joy as their “wedding day” finally has come. This is heaven itself – to be in the Presence of the LORD and to be His beloved (Rev. 19:6-9).
With the advent of the holiday of Tu B’Av, we are reminded of the beautiful phrase, ani l’dodi ve’dodi li (אֲנִי לְדוֹדִי וְדוֹדִי לִי), “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” (Song. 6:3), a phrase the sages say is an acronym for the name Elul (אלול). Now the month of Elul begins in just a couple of weeks (i.e., Monday, August 5th this year), and the entire month is set apart to prepare us for the coming High Holidays in early September. During this time it we engage in cheshbon ha-nefesh (“soul searching”) and to derive comfort that God is forgiving and loving to those who turn to Him. The sages chose the seven “Haftarot of comfort” to encourage us to make our hearts ready for the upcoming High Holiday Season.
