B"H
Friday, Menachem Av 14, 5781 / July 23, 2021
This Shabbat, the 15th day in the month of Menachem Av, is a very happy day. During the time of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem it was one of the happiest days of the year.
The 15th of Av was “matchmaking” day in Israel. The Talmudic sage, Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel, said: “There were no greater festive days for Israel than the 15th of Av.” On that day the daughters of Jerusalem would go out and dance in the vineyards and they would say, "Young man, raise your eyes and see what you select for yourself.” It was a day of matchmaking which led to many many weddings.
The Talmud lists several joyous events which occurred on the 15th day of Av: 1) The dying of the generation of the Exodus ceased. Because they refused to go into the Promised Land, G-d decreed that all men between 20 and 60, who came out of Egypt, would die in the desert & only their children would enter the land. After 40 years in the desert, on the 15th of Av, the dying ended.
2) In order to ensure the orderly division of the Holy Land between the twelve tribes of Israel, restrictions had been placed on marriages between members of two different tribes. This restriction was binding only on the generation that conquered and settled the Holy Land. The restriction was lifted on the 15th of Av. The event was considered a cause for celebration and festivity and the 15th of Av became a day of celebration.
3) The 15th of Av was the day on which the tribe of Benjamin, which had been excommunicated for a particular indecent behavior (as related in Judges 19-21), was readmitted into the community of Israel.
4) Hosea ben Eilah opened the roads to Jerusalem. Upon the division of the Holy Land into two kingdoms following the death of King Solomon, Jeroboam ben Nebat, ruler of the breakaway Northern Kingdom of Israel, set up roadblocks to prevent his citizens from making the three yearly pilgrimages to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. They were finally removed on the 15th of Av, more than 200 years later by Hosea ben Eilah, the last king of the Northern Kingdom.
5) The dead of Betar were allowed to be buried. The fortress of Betar was the last holdout of the Bar Kochba rebellion. When Betar fell on the 9th of Av, Bar Kochba and many thousands of Jews were killed. The Romans massacred the survivors of the battle with great cruelty and would not allow the Jews to bury their dead. The dead of Betar were finally brought to burial on the 15th of Av.
6) "The day of the breaking of the ax." In the time of the Temple, the annual cutting of firewood for the altar was concluded on the 15th of Av. The event was celebrated with feasting and rejoicing.
This Shabbat we read Parshat Va’etchanan. In the Parsha we read about the Ten Commandments. This Shabbat is called “Shabbat Nachmu” – “Shabbat of Comfort.” May Hashem bring true comfort to all of Israel. Amen.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 8:15 / Shabbat ends: 9:25