The Month of Av

The Talmud relates that on the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur, the eligible young men and women of Jerusalem would go out to the vineyards to find their prospective marriage partner. Why specifically these two days?

The Talmud teaches us that the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur are the happiest days of the Jewish calendar. Why, and what is the connection between these two dates?

The Talmud relates that the 20th of Av was a holiday for a particular family who brought wood to the Temple for the altar, the identity of this family is the topic of a debate.

This is an advanced class which discusses the specialty of the 15th of Av.

An in-depth analysis of the Talmudic teaching that from the fifteenth of Av and onward, one is to increase in Torah study at night.

An advanced class detailing the significance of the 20th day of Av.

A historical overview of the joyous day of the fifteenth of Av and its inner meaning and significance.

On the 15th of Av young men and women would meet in the vineyards of Jerusalem for the purpose of finding their soul-mate. The beautiful girls among them would declare that a young man aught set his eyes to beauty alone. The Talmud does not censure them, even mildly. But surely, as Scripture states, "Charm is false and beauty has no substance"?! (Likutei Sichos vol. 19, p. 80)

“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 . . . (for matchmaking).” This cryptic passage of the Talmud—like many others—requires further study, elaboration and context to better understand its meaning and significance.