Devarim

1. Rabbah, the son of Bar Channah, taught in the name of Rav Yochanan, that Tu B’Av was the day the generation of the wilderness ceased dying. Every Tisha B’Av, they would go to sleep in open graves they had dug and in the morning, 15,000 would not get up, having died during the night. This would continue every year on Tisha B’Av until all 600,000 perished. The following year, no one died on the night of Tisha B’Av, and so, Bnei Yisroel concluded that perhaps they had miscalculated the date for Tisha B’Av and they again slept in open graves an additional night. This continued every night until they saw the full moon of Tu B’Av and decided that the generation of the wilderness had been forgiven. Another Tu B’Av event was the annual shidduch day. On this day, the girls would dress up in borrowed white dresses and dance in the vineyard. Young men, who were seeking a bride, would use this gathering to find a suitable match. This white cloth had previously been used in the making of Tachrichim (shrouds). However, with the cessation of death in the wilderness, the cloth was used to perpetuate life, as the young women adorned in white dresses, found their husbands and built new families. Thus, Tu B’Av represents a day of change and redirection.

2. Tu B’Av is referred to, as the day of the “breaking of the ax.” Until this day, the wood would be chopped for the altar. With the advent of Tu B’Av, the nights got longer and consequently, the power of the sun diminished. Without the powerful rays of the sun, the wood could not dry out sufficiently before it became wormy and unfit for use. Therefore, from this day on, no more wood was chopped and accepted for the altar. With the cessation of wood chopping, there was more time to study Torah, making this day special for it opened up new opportunities to serve Hashem. Again, we see the pivotal nature of this day. A day that represents our ability to redirect our lives more constructively.

3. The “Shem Meshmuel” highlights Tu B’Av in the following way. It is well-known that one can appreciate an item by its contrast and diametric opposite, as light is appreciated in the dark. So, too, both Tu B’Av and Yom Kippur are days of stark contrast with the days preceding them. Rosh Hashana, which immediately precedes Yom Kippur, is a day of judgment and distance from Hashem. The simcha of Yom Kippur is felt poignantly, as it represents the diametric opposite, a day of mercy and nearness to Hashem. This, too, is the case with Tu B’Av. A mere six days before was the saddest day in the Jewish calendar. Tu B’Av, by contrast, is a day of good fortune and opportunity. It is for this reason, that the Mishna teaches, “There were no other days so festive and happy, as Yom Kippur and Tu B’Av,” for their advent is appreciated in their stark distinction from the previous days. Again we see the concept that Tu B’Av is a day of turnabout and change (from din to rachamim), representing an occasion for opportunity and redirection.

Life is a plethora of missed opportunities, as the old “knock-knock” joke goes: “Knock, Knock.” “Who’s there?” “Opportunity” “Can’t be - opportunity just knocks once!” The famous Latin dictum, “Carpe diem,” “Seize the day,” is a vital inspiration needed by all. If we would only seize the pivotal moments of opportunity the Almighty sends us, we would accomplish in geometric proportion. The message of Tu B’Av is to be sure to always seize those opportunities so we can grow and improve our lives.