The Biblical Month of Av

The month of Av is the fifth month on the redemption calendar. The name Av means father. This month contains both the lowest most tragic day for the Jewish peoples and one of the two highest joyous days of the year. Because of the joyous day that follows the lowest day, this month is frequently referred to as Menachem Av or the comfort of the Father. The letters of the word “Av” are the aleph and beit. Av, then, is also known as the month of the aleph-beit. We will see that all these names are connected!

The ninth of Av, Tish B’Av, is the lowest day of the year. This is the day that the ten spies brought back the bad report of the land and the Children of Israel refused to go into the land. They were on the cusp of victory and backed down bringing about one of Israel’s greatest defeats. This day is just three weeks after the 17^th of Tammuz, another low day for the Children of Israel. On the 17^th of Tammuz of the previous year, the Children of Israel built and worshiped the golden calf resulting in the death of 3,000 Hebrews, the destruction of the Tablets of the Ten Words of God, and a forty day period of mourning. The 9^th of Av is also the day the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed first by the Babylonians, and second by the Romans!

Numbers 33:38 records the death of Aaron on the first of Av. This is the only time that the Torah mentions a specific date for a death. Aaron is known as a peacemaker. The death of Aaron at this time reminds us of our obligation to love our brother. The destruction of the temple, both times, was because of idolatry, sexual sins, and division between brothers. Naftali  Silberberg in his teaching at Chabad.org quotes from the Talmud:

“Why was the first Temple destroyed? Because of three sins—idolatry, sexual indiscretions and murder. The second Temple—when the people were involved in Torah, mitzvoth, and acts of kindness—why was it destroyed? Because they harbored baseless hatred towards each other.”

As we remember the destruction of the temple, we repent of our sins especially those that lead to divisions among the believers and seek to reconcile one with another as we bring the gospel of salvation!

The month of Av is the month of Simeon. Simeon or Shimown comes from the Hebrew word Sh’ma which we all know means to hear and obey. It is now when tragedy is at its height and hope seems to be futile that we need to tune our ears to hear and obey our Father.

The three weeks between the 17^th of Tammuz and the 9^th of Av are called the Dire Straits or Between the Straights. Since the destruction of the first temple by the Babylonians was prophesied by Jeremiah, it is the practice of the Jewish people to read the Book of Lamentations. The Book of Lamentations laments the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple. It is written in a form called an acrostic. Each verse in the first two chapters and the last two chapters of the book begin with a letter of the aleph-beit in order. The middle chapter varies that by having three consecutive verses begin with each letter. There are a couple of other variations in the ordering of the letters as well which are worthy of further study for those who are motivated to do so. This practice of reading Lamentations with its aleph-beit acrostic connects with calling Av the month of the aleph-beit.

After the ninth of Av, the heart turns back to hope. After the children of Israel refused to enter the land and God’s punishment fell on that generation, God redirects the children of Israel. He immediately gives new instructions for when, not if, but when they enter the land. Hope rises for the next generation. Shimona Tzukernik in her teaching on the Month of Av for Chabad.org says that the hope of messiah rises out of the ashes of the destruction of the temple. And so, after the punishment, there is the comfort of the Father. Each Sabbath after the 9^th of Av continuing through the following month of Elul, words of comfort are read from the book of Isaiah beginning with Isaiah 40.

Six days after the 9^th of Av, on the 15^th day of the month at the full moon, there is a little known festival held from ancient times in Israel called Tu B’Av. Tu’Bav marked the beginning of the grape harvest which continued until Yom Kippur on the 10^th of Tishrei. It was the practice for unmarried girls to dress in white garments and dance in the vineyards. This holiday is referred to in Judges 21 when the men who remained from the tribe of Benjamin after the civil war were allowed to go out into the vineyards where the girls were dancing and take brides for themselves. In modern times, this holiday is considered a holiday of love.