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A HAPPY HOLIDAY
THAT CELEBRATES LOVE.
ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM
AppleTree Editor
II
e created the animals
and the trees and fish
and the oceans and the
land and people —
and then what? What was left to do?
Well, run the world, of course.
But God isn't just occupied with
the more complicated and serious
issues of life. He also is busy with
matters of the heart.
According to tradition, God set
aside one day specifically for making
matches, and that day is Tu b'Av, the
15th of the month of Av, which this
year falls on Saturday, Aug. 4. In the
Torah, this day — also known as the
Holiday of Love — marks the first
time when the Twelve Tribes of
Israel were permitted to marry with
one another, rather simply within
their own tribes.
In honor of all our parents who
fell in love and raised us with love,
in honor of the parents we are, and
in honor of the sweethearts who
have yet to meet, AppleTree presents
a collection of fun facts about family
and moms and clads and love.
# 1 ) It's an approach advocated by
most child-care professionals and
experts today, a position taken hun-
dreds of years ago by Rashi who, in
a commentary on Deuteronomy,
said: "To obey out of love is better
than to obey out of fear."
Lovers Romeo and Juliet in an Israeli-
Palestinian production in Jerusalem.
You can learn a lot by learning a little. In Fact-A-Day, AppleTree
provides you with fascinating tidbits about any Jewish subject,
past or present.
This month, in honor of the holiday of Tu b'Av, you'll find a
collection of 31 — one for each day of August — great facts
about love.
Do you have a suggestion for Fact-A-Day? If so, please drop us
a line at AppleTree Facts, 27676 Franklin Road, Southfield, MI
48034, fax (248) 354-6069, call (248) 354-6060 ext. 308
(voice-mail only), or e-mail
philapple@earthlink.net .
#2) In ancient Jerusalem, single
women would don plain white
gowns and dance in the street in an
attempt to attract a potential hus-
band on Tu b'Av.
#3) In a Jewish wedding ceremony,
the bride's face is often covered
with a veil as the couple stands
under the wedding canopy, or
chuppah. But beforehand, the
groom checks to make certain he
has the right woman by lifting the
veil and taking a peek at his
beloved's face. This tradition is
based on the biblical story of Jacob,
1A1
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who was tricked into marrying
Leah when he had his heart set on
Rachel.
#4) In Talmudic times, the best age
to be married was 18, according to
Pirke Avot (The Ethics of the Fathers.)
#5) Many couples wedding today
do so using a tallit as their chu g
The tradition began in the 17th
century in Germany and France,
when a groom would spread his 'cal-
lit over his bride's head to symbolize
protection. This comes from two
biblical passages: "Your time was 51-1e
time of love, and I spread my man-
de over you" (from Ezekiel 16:8),
and "Spread .. your cloak over your
handmaid, for you art a near kins-
man (from Ruth 3:9.)
0
#6) Some families still make use of
a shadehan, or matchmaker, though
the practice isn't nearly as popular as
in ancient times. Many years ago,
the position of shadchan was highly
respected because it was regarded
doing God's work, and some of the
most illustrious rabbis, including
Jacob ben Moses lialevi Mollin, a
leading figure of the 15th century,
earned their living in this way.
#7) The Talmud states: 'Even a
rabbi should rise when his father
enters a room.
#8) Genesis 1:28 tells us to "Be
fruitful and multiply and fill the
earth." The rabbis believed this
mitzvah, or commandment, was so
important that it even superseded
Torah study, which must wait, they
ruled, while one celebrated with a
bride and groom.
#9) Maimonides, Rabbi Moses
ben-Maimon, the great 12th-centu-
ry rabbi and author of the Mishnah
Torah, said, "Our sages recom-
mended that a father should spend
less than his means on food, up to
his means on dress, and beyond his
means for his wife and children."
8/3
2001
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