Tu B

> Tu B

Tu B

Though deemed one of the greatest festivals of the year by the Talmudic rabbis, Tu B

Tu B’Av is a bit of a paradox: A high point of the Jewish calendar during one of the darkest times of the year, the month of Av. Subsequent to Tisha B’Av, the darkness slowly begins to lift, and at last Tu B’Av arrives with the gentle glory of sunlight breaking free of the clouds. There has been destruction and mourning, but now, just a week later, there is comfort and rebirth in the form of love.

Finding Love in Ancient Jerusalem

On Tu B’Av, the Talmud tells us, the unmarried women would go out to the vineyards clad in white gowns, and dance. The unmarried men would watch the dancing, and during this event, select a wife.

In order to eliminate competition based on economic status, poor girls would borrow the rich girls’ dresses, and vice versa. The Talmud also tells that beautiful women called out to the men, “Look for beauty, for a woman is for beauty." Those from prominent families would say, “Look for family, for a woman is for children." Women who were not attractive would enjoin the men to seek a match “for the sake of heaven.”

Other Highlights of Tu B’Av

Though it is best known today as the festival of love, Tu B’Av has other points of significance as well. It is the day when cutting wood for the main altar in the Second Temple was completed for the year—an important milestone since the Temple was the center of Jewish life in those times.

Another distinction of Tu B’Av is that it marks the summer solstice, when the nights become longer. In Talmudic tradition, night is the ideal time for Torah study—an idea that dates back to King David, who would rise at midnight in order to compose the Psalms.

Today, religious Jews who feel that Valentine’s Day has no part of their tradition can supplement their calendar with a day that is similar, and use Tu B’Av as an opportunity to cherish their existing relationships, or attend some of the singles events that often abound on this day.

Jerusalem City Guide

2000+ tips and recommendations

Top things to do in Jerusalem this winter

Alright, we'll be the first to admit it. Jerusalem's often chilly and often damp winters don't exactly exude...
The top five ancient landmarks in Jerusalem

In a region known for being one of the first in which early humans settled after leaving Africa, and in a city populated...
Breakfast Buffet at the American Colony Hotel

Looking for a place to begin your morning in luxury and style? Look no further than the American Colony Hotel, which offers...

The top five luxury hotels in Jerusalem

Jerusalem, the city where kings ruled and sultans sat is no stranger to luxury. Today, even the visiting yeoman can find...
The top five underexposed hotels in Jerusalem

Jewish tradition holds that in the times of the First and Second Temples, all the Jewish people would gather in Jerusalem...
The top five hotels near the Old City of Jerusalem

Technically, it's possible to visit Jerusalem without going to the Old City, but it would be hard to say you'd...

Breakfast Buffet at the American Colony Hotel

Looking for a place to begin your morning in luxury and style? Look no further than the American Colony Hotel, which offers...
40 things you have to eat in Jerusalem

The faithful may rhapsodize about the spiritual highs to be reached in the Old City; culture cognoscenti groove on the...
Top Five Desserts in Jerusalem

Once upon a time, options for eating out in Jerusalem were limited to local common phenomena such as falafel and schwarma,...