by pegmo on Sat Aug 08, 2009 9:24 pm
I will throw another possible day in the mix.
How about Av 15?
Tu B'Av is a "full moon" holiday that has been a celebration of love and affection since biblical times. This holiday is also the last festival of the jewish year.
Coming one week after Tisha B'Av, the saddest day of the Jewish year, Tu B'Av is celebrated outside of the walls of the city, away from the Temple Mount, the site of the destruction. This holiday celebrated one week later, has the promise of hope and new life after fear and grief.
Whereas Tisha B'Av is the day when [tradition says] God declared that the Jews would wander 40 years in the desert (until the generation that knew slavery died out), Tu B'Av is the day when, 40 years later, the remaining 15,000 Israelites of the desert generation were told they would be able to enter the Promised Land.
In the Talmud (Ta'anit 4:8) we read that Rabbi Simeon ben Gamliel said there never were in Israel greater days of joy than the 15th of Av and the Day of Atonement (interesting comparison!) since on these days the daughters of Jerusalem would go out dressed in white to dance in the vineyards.
Perhaps this last festival of the jewish year, prior to Rosh Hashana, prophetically pictures our marriage to the Lamb! Lots of interesting symbolism - the white clothing, love, marriage, celebration away from the city of destruction, the dancing in the vineyards, the promise of new life and hope, being chosen to enter the Promised Land..... and interesting that its contrasted with the Jewish Day of Atonement - which speaks of the national atonement of Israel at Christ's return. One day for the bride, one day for Israel.....