Good afternoon, dear friends. As is still the case, it has been hard enough trying to describe the mix of emotions that we have been experiencing, let alone trying to keep track of when is and isn’t an appropriate time to feel that way. We go from shiva call to sheva...
The Torah tells us, ‘You must not light a fire… on the day of Shabbos.’ One should not light a fire – even a spiritual flame – on Shabbos. He must imbue his weekly activities with warmth and sanctity as well, so that when Shabbos does finally arrive, he is not just beginning to create the fire.
These eternal words spoken in ancient Babylonia waited nearly 1,650 years in order to find their, now, eternal tune.
Chazal compares Tu b’Av to Yom Kippur! Tu b’Av is a day of renewal of ties among the nation, just as Yom Kippur is a day of renewal of our ties to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. The common denominators between Tu b’Av and Yom Kippur are love, acceptance and forgiveness.