New thought for Tu B'Av
On Tu B'Av itself, I had a new insight about the contrast between this holiday and the 9th of Av. As it was Shabbos, I couldn't write it up right away. So here it is.
The halacha is that one is allowed to get engaged even on the 9th of Av itself shema yikadmenu acher - lest someone else beat you to it if you don't grab your chance. Perhaps this is the origin of the idea "All's fair in love." Yet it also carries a bit of a competitive spirit -- beating out someone else -- even while forming a bond with one's intended spouse. In contrast, on Tu B'Av, the women who gathered in the vineyards were cooperative, lending out their white dresses to others so that no one would be embarrassed if she didn't have one to wear. And so we see that absolute ahavat chinam -- unconditional love -- that is the opposite of sinat chinam -- the baseless hatred that caused the churban of the second Beis Hamikdash. May it be rebuilt bimhera beyameinu.
Related:
Don't diminish Tu B'Av by calling it a Jewish Valentine's Day
The 15th of Av
The 15th of Av take 4, differing accounts and group numbers
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