Tu B-Av: The Original JDate

No, it’s not Valentines Day but it’s an excellent time to show off my “ahava” (Hebrew for “love”) shirts. Edgy and tattoo-inspired, the design gives an otherwise schmaltzy concept a bit of biker spice, don’t you think?

The reason is Tu B’Av, the 15th Day of the month of Av in the Hebrew lunar calendar, which this year is coming up on August 5. Tu B’Av was a post-biblical day of joy and matchmaking during the second Temple period (before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 C.E.). It has been rejuvenated in recent decades, especially in Israel as a Hebrew-Jewish Day of Love.

In its ancient form, the holiday drew the young unmarried girls to the vineyards outside the city of Jerusalem, dressed in white clothing, where they would dance. Unmarried young men would go to find a nice girl for their brides. Yes, that’s right — it was the original JDate.

In recent decades Tu B’Av has been revived as an unofficial holiday, especially in Israel, where festivals of singing and dancing are held at night. As with Valentines Day in Western countries, the entertainment, gift and beauty industries do a good business on this date.

Tu B’Av is also considered an auspicious day to get married. I’ll let you in on a little secret. It didn’t work for me, but oh well, the idea was nice .