"There were no greater holidays for Israel than Tu B'Av [the fifteenth of the month of Av], and Yom Kippur." (Ta'anit 26b) Tu B'Av is the day on which the Jewish People reconnect with one another. When we do that, unity and love are revealed. Where unity and love abide, there is great joy.
On that day, the tribes were permitted to marry one another, after the tribe of Benjamin was excommunicated following the cruel murder of a concubine at Geva (Judges 19). On that same day, the Israelites ceased dying in the desert and G-d began communicating with Moses once more. On that day, the blockades and sentry-posts placed by Yeravam ben Nevat to prevent the ten tribes from making pilgrimages to Jerusalem were called off. On that day, the axes finished chopping down trees for the Temple, as is written, "Then the trees of the forest shall sing for joy." (Psalm 96:12) Even the trees rejoiced. On that day, the daughters of Israel went out dancing in the vineyards in white outfits for the purpose of finding a match and establishing faithful Jewish homes (Ta'anit 30b).
On Tu B'Av, only one week has passed since Tisha B'Av, that day of total mourning and sorrow over the destruction and exile, and over our having been cut off from our land and Temple. After that day, we then move on to a situation of reconnecting to our land and our Temple, and to a situation of reconnection and reunification within our people. The greater our mourning and sorrow, the greater the joy that is revealed on Tu B'Av.
On Tu B'Av, the day of reconnection, let us raise up the flag of reconnection to our people, our Torah and our land. The flag of reconnection to our people will be proudly raised when we learn to recognize its uniqueness and special purpose. It will be raised when we recognize the benevolent, divine soul of Israel, throughout all the generations, whose task it is to bring light to the whole world from Eretz Yisrael. As is written, "I have created this people for Myself, that they might recount My praise." (Isaiah 43:21)
Let us raise up the banner of reconnection to our holy Torah. We must learn to recognize that Torah study reveals G-d's benevolent will, which illuminates the individual and collective soul of Israel. As is written, "For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching is light." (Proverbs 6:30)
We will raise up the banner of reconnection to our holy land when we learn to recognize that our universal purpose of illuminating and benefiting the world will only be fulfilled through Israel's return to all of Eretz Yisrael. As is written, "For out of Zion shall go forth the Torah, and the word of G-d from Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2:3)
And we shall proclaim in a loud voice: Let us reconnect to our people, our Torah and our land! And thereby, we will merit complete redemption, speedily in our days.
On that day, the tribes were permitted to marry one another, after the tribe of Benjamin was excommunicated following the cruel murder of a concubine at Geva (Judges 19). On that same day, the Israelites ceased dying in the desert and G-d began communicating with Moses once more. On that day, the blockades and sentry-posts placed by Yeravam ben Nevat to prevent the ten tribes from making pilgrimages to Jerusalem were called off. On that day, the axes finished chopping down trees for the Temple, as is written, "Then the trees of the forest shall sing for joy." (Psalm 96:12) Even the trees rejoiced. On that day, the daughters of Israel went out dancing in the vineyards in white outfits for the purpose of finding a match and establishing faithful Jewish homes (Ta'anit 30b).
On Tu B'Av, only one week has passed since Tisha B'Av, that day of total mourning and sorrow over the destruction and exile, and over our having been cut off from our land and Temple. After that day, we then move on to a situation of reconnecting to our land and our Temple, and to a situation of reconnection and reunification within our people. The greater our mourning and sorrow, the greater the joy that is revealed on Tu B'Av.
On Tu B'Av, the day of reconnection, let us raise up the flag of reconnection to our people, our Torah and our land. The flag of reconnection to our people will be proudly raised when we learn to recognize its uniqueness and special purpose. It will be raised when we recognize the benevolent, divine soul of Israel, throughout all the generations, whose task it is to bring light to the whole world from Eretz Yisrael. As is written, "I have created this people for Myself, that they might recount My praise." (Isaiah 43:21)
Let us raise up the banner of reconnection to our holy Torah. We must learn to recognize that Torah study reveals G-d's benevolent will, which illuminates the individual and collective soul of Israel. As is written, "For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching is light." (Proverbs 6:30)
We will raise up the banner of reconnection to our holy land when we learn to recognize that our universal purpose of illuminating and benefiting the world will only be fulfilled through Israel's return to all of Eretz Yisrael. As is written, "For out of Zion shall go forth the Torah, and the word of G-d from Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2:3)
And we shall proclaim in a loud voice: Let us reconnect to our people, our Torah and our land! And thereby, we will merit complete redemption, speedily in our days.