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July 27, 2007
The festival of love and unity
Tu b'Av has ancient roots in biblical times, but in Israel, it's
also like Valentine's Day.
BATSHEVA POMERANTZ ISRAEL PRESS SERVICE
"There were no better days for Israel as the 15th of Av
and Yom Kippur in which the daughters of Jerusalem would go out
in white clothing, borrowed so as not to embarrass those who didn't
have any.
And the daughters of Jerusalem would go out and dance in the vineyards,
exclaiming: 'Young man, lift up your eyes and see what you may choose
for yourself.' "
– Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel (the Mishnah)
The wedding season in Israel reaches its peak in mid-summer, and
the 15th day of the month of Av, or Tu b'Av (which this year falls
on July 30), is a most auspicious time to marry. In fact, so popular
is this date – only a week after the Tisha b'Av fast which
concludes the mourning period for the destruction of the Temple
– that Israeli wedding halls are fully booked months in advance.
The Mishnah tells us that the 15th of Av in biblical times was a
celebration. The daughters of Israel would dress in white and dance
in the vineyards, and all those looking for a wife would go there.
Though its source is shrouded in mystery, the festival has evolved
into an Israeli version of Valentine's Day – a festival of
love with all the commercial trappings (gifts, cards and flowers)
– and Tu b'Av's connection to marriage and unity has been all
but forgotten.
When the land of Israel was divided into tribes, each of which held
a distinct territory, women who had inherited their fathers' ancestral
land were not allowed to marry outside their tribe. This prohibition
was lifted on Tu b'Av, and the next generation of women was granted
permission to marry into whichever tribe they wished. In addition,
a ban on women of the different tribes marrying men from the tribe
of Benjamin following a civil war (Judges 19-21) was lifted on Tu
b'Av amidst dancing and joy. This saved the tribe of Benjamin from
extinction.
The celebrations that facilitated the matchmaking process among
the tribes took place in Shilo, a city in the Ephraim hill country.
Considered by some as the political and spiritual centre of Israel,
during the period that the Temple in Jerusalem was being constructed,
the Tabernacle, according to talmudic sources, rested there for
369 years. It was to Shilo that the Israelites brought their sacrifices
and where the priest Eli promised that Chana would bear a son, Samuel,
who would become a prophet and dedicate himself to the Lord.
As in biblical times, the modern-day community of Shilo – which
was established in January 1978 adjacent to the ancient biblical
site, now called Tel Shilo – holds an annual Tu b'Av event
commemorating this joyous day. Approaching Shilo along the route
used by the Patriarchs (Derech Ha'avot), the sun-soaked hills
are dotted with orchards and vineyards.
The event, organized by the Binyamin Regional Council, attracts
some 5,000 Israelis from all over the country. Rachel Erlich, director
of Tel Shilo, attributes this popularity to the fact that, "not
only does the festival provide a diversion for youngsters during
the summer vacation, but its various activities convey the significance
of the festival from a Jewish, rather than a commercial, standpoint."
The tours focus on the history of the area and the natural beauty
of a region once settled by the tribe of Benjamin, and re-enactments
of the ancient stories bring the biblical stories of the books of
Joshua, Judges and Samuel to life. Storytellers tell love stories
based on the Talmud, children participate in workshops connected
to the theme of the Tabernacle, and klezmer musicians, whose repertoire
consists largely of dance songs for weddings and other celebrations,
add to the festive atmosphere.
"Many Evangelist Christians visit Tel Shilo from all over the
world," said Erlich. "They are not interested in the usual
tourist sites, but in the sites where biblical stories took place,
like Hebron, Shechem (Nablus) and Beit El. They tour Israel as the
land of the Bible."
Tel Shilo attracts b'nai mitzvah celebrations, and many families
come from abroad in order to celebrate their child's milestone in
a meaningful way.
Sharon Katz of Efrat, editor of Voices magazine, celebrated
her daughter's bat mitzvah in Shilo a few years ago. "It was
a thrilling day," said Katz. "I asked our guests to wear
white and we toured the ruins of a synagogue and visited the site
of the Covenant of the Ark. After that, we danced in the fields,
just as they did in ancient times."
Weddings at the site of Tel Shilo, said Erlich, are usually held
by families living in nearby Shilo who understand the uniqueness
of holding a wedding ceremony on Tu b'Av at the place where the
story of the holiday unfolded.
Tu b'Av is the last of the festive days on the Jewish calendar before
Rosh Hashanah ushers in the New Year. Like many Jewish holidays,
it falls on the 15th of the month, when the moon is full. The moon,
which waxes and wanes, symbolizes the ups and downs of the Jewish
people.
Tu b'Av may be a minor festival, but it is significant to hundreds
of Israeli couples who come together on this day. They, too, may
experience ups and downs, but their hope is to share a life of love,
happiness, fulfilment and unity.
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