Love Fest
Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
Today is Tu’Bav and
Where are….my chocolates and
flowers?
As I’ve mentioned before I
miss Valentines Day. I don’t really miss it. I just miss the idea of it. Many
years ago my husband informed me that Jews (well, at least some Jews) do not
celebrate Valentines Day. You see “Saint” Valentine did not make it in the Top
Ten Rebbe List. In fact he didn’t make the list at all. We have issues with
historical saints or any saints for that matter. Most of them didn’t take too
kindly to us and even if they did, they weren’t exactly up on the 613
commandments. So, Valentines Day, as romantic as it may be is NOT a holiday for
us Jews. No chocolate, no flowers no Hallmark card. Now of course we have
Shabbos every week and anyone can receive flowers to liven up their Shabbos
table. In addition, the woman of valor is sang each week to the “woman of the
house,” so we are not lacking for appreciation, but all those red hearts and
flowers are hard to pass up in February. As a kid I use to love those little candy hearts
with the cute sayings printed on them. But, shuks! Turns out they have gelatin
in them: the piggy kind. Too bad.
Anyway, we do have Tu B’av that is
celebrated on the 15th of Av. Historically;
Tu B'av was a joyous holiday in the days of the Temple in Jerusalem. Unmarried
girls would dress in white clothing (so that rich could not be distinguished
from poor) and go out to sing and dance in the vineyards surrounding Jerusalem.
Young men who had not yet married would go to watch and choose among them wives
for themselves. The Talmud states that there were no holy days as happy for the
Jews as Tu B'Av and Yom Kippur. There are other historical happy events to
commemorate this day, but today many people choose this day for their marriage
ceremonies.
Well, I’m not holding out on Hallmark,
but just in case you’re reading this and you weren’t aware. Today is Tu B’av.
Go get her some flowers! Pssss.....Throw in some chocolate and you should be good to pass
up Valentines Day this year.
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