A Bigger Holiday than Yom Kippur?!

 The 15th of Av (known as Tu B'Av) is a most mysterious day, celebrated this year on August 9, 2025. A search of the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) reveals no observances or customs for this date, except for the instruction that the tachanun (confession of sins) and similar portions should be omitted from the daily prayers (as is the case with all festive dates), and that one should increase one’s study of Torah, since the nights are beginning to grow longer, and “the night was created for study.” 

The Talmud tells us that many years ago, the “daughters of Jerusalem would go dance in the vineyards” on the 15th of Av, and “whoever did not have a wife would go there” to find himself a bride. And the Talmud considers this the greatest festival of the year, with Yom Kippur (!) a close second! 

As the “full moon” of the month of Av, it is the festival of the future Redemption, marking the end of the tragedy that marred the first part of the month. Until this day, we hold siyumim and give charity each day to mitigate our sadness and hasten the Redemption. But on the 15th of Av, this is no longer. Forty-five days before Rosh Hashanah, this is also the first day on which we begin to wish each other a ketivah vachatimah tovah, to be signed and sealed for a good year.

In a letter dated 15 Av, 5725 (August 13, 1965) the Rebbe commented on the significance of this joyous day coming so closely after the 9th of Av:

Coming so soon after Tisha b’Av, the radical transition from a mood of sadness to that of joy is doubly significant. Firstly, it signifies that any sad interlude in Jewish life is only transitory and is based on the principle of “descent for the purpose of ascent.” In other words, any sad events in our history—which are commemorated on the few sad days on our calendar—are backward steps necessary for a greater leap forward.

Secondly, the very transition from sadness to gladness intensifies the joy, and adds real quality to it, which could not be appreciated otherwise.

May we merit the ultimate joy with the coming of Moshiach now!

Shabbat begins with candle lighting on Friday at 7:45 PM (times for NYC)

Shabbat Shalom!