The Talmud states: “Never were there more joyous days for the Jewish People than the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur,” listing five or six joyous events that occurred on 15 Av throughout history.
But what is it about the energy of the 15th of Av that attracts so much joy?
15 Menachem Av, 5743 · July 25, 1983
There were no greater festivals for Israel than the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur. On these days the daughters of Jerusalem would go out… and dance in the vineyards. And what would they say? “Young man, raise your eyes and see which you select for yourself….”
And so it is written, “Go out, daughters of Zion, and see King Solomon, in the crown with which his mother crowned him on his wedding day and on the day of his heart’s rejoicing” (Song of Songs 3:11). “His wedding day” — this is the Giving of the Torah; “the day of his heart’s rejoicing” — this is the building of the Holy Temple, which shall be rebuilt speedily in our days.
– Talmud, Taanit 26b
It is no coincidence that Yom Kippur and the 15th of Av served as occasions for matchmaking for the young men and women of Jerusalem: these two days are the respective betrothal and marriage dates of G-d and Israel. Yom Kippur — the day on which the Second Tablets were given to Moses, marking the fulfillment of the covenant at Mount Sinai — is the day of Israel’s betrothal to G-d. Av 15 — the day that represents the rebirth which follows the great fall of the Holy Temple’s destruction on the 9th of Av — celebrates the ultimate consummation of our marriage with the final redemption of Moshiach.
After relating how “the daughters of Jerusalem would go out… and dance in the vineyards” and “whoever did not have a wife would go there” to find himself a bride, the Talmud goes on to describe three different categories of “daughters” and how each would call out to her perspective bridegroom:
What would the beautiful ones among them say? “Look for beauty, for a woman is for beauty.”
What would those of prestigious lineage say? “Look for family, for a woman is for children.”
What would the ugly ones say? “Make your acquisition for the sake of Heaven, as long as you decorate us with jewels” (Talmud, Taanit 31a).
The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains that the marriage of G-d and His people also includes these three categories of “brides”: the souls of Israel include “beautiful” souls, souls “of prestigious lineage,” and “ugly” souls, each of whom contribute their own unique dimension to our relationship with G-d.
Based on the teachings of the Rebbe, adapted by Rabbi Yanki Tauber
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