Tu B'Av: Reclaiming old traditions

In Israel Tu B'Av is perceived mostly as the holiday of love, a kind of Jewish equivalent to Valentine's Day. However, the holiday's roots run much deeper and do not necessarily relate to love as an underlying principle.

According to tradition, Tu B'Av marks the day the daughters of the Tribe of Binyamin were allowed to marry the sons of the other tribes, thus bringing love, peace and reconciliation to the people of Israel.

Bain Hashmashot: 'Od Lo Ahavti Dai'

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A special event that will be held Wednesday evening at Bar Ilan University will focus on Tu B'Av as a day of Jewish-Israeli love. The evening will include a performance by musician Shlomo Bar with Rabbi Menachem Fruman, and a performance of the Bein Hashmashot band, with Meir Banai as special guest.

Ahead of the holiday Bein Hashmashot recorded for Ynet a special version of Naomi Shemer's old song "Od Lo Ahavti Dai" ("I haven't loved enough").

The band's lead singer and artistic director Yoni Genut told Ynet that the purpose of the event is to address Tu B'Av from the Jewish angle, recreate the day's experience and touch on the original texts that refer to it in the Mishna.

According to Genut, what makes Tu B'Av so unique is the connection between three loves – the love of God, the love of Israel and personal loves.