Jewish Day of Love: Tu B'Av

A popular date for weddings, the fifteenth of the Hebrew month of Av (Tu B’av) is celebrated in modern IsraelLit. ”the one who struggles with God.” Israel means many things. It is first used with reference to Jacob, whose name is changed to Israel (Genesis 32:29), the one who struggles with God. Jacob’s children, the Jewish people, become B’nai Israel, the children of Israel. The name also refers to the land of Israel and the State of Israel. as a holiday of love similar to Valentine’s Day. According to the TalmudThe rabbinic compendium of lore and legend composed between 200 and 500 CE. Study of the Talmud is the focus of rabbinic scholarship. The Talmud has two versions, the main Babylonian version (Bavli) and the smaller Jerusalem version (Yerushalmi). It is written in Rabbinic Hebrew and Aramaic., in the ancient world on this date unmarried women would dress in white and go out to dance in the vineyards and choose a husband. Though there are not many traditional rituals associated with the holiday, contemporary rituals have been created to explore the theme of love.