(Adapted from The Book of Heritage by Eliyahu Kitov) Judaism stresses the importance of modesty. Tu B'Av illustrates some cardinal principles. The Joy of Marriage From time immemorial, the essential strength of Jewish holiness found expression in the restrictions regarding modesty. The joy of marriage is therefore paramount. For when marriage is performed according to the spirit of the Torah, it is a sign that the entire life of Israel is sacred. For this reason the Sages said that a groom is forgiven his sins on his wedding day; he starts his new life in sanctity without a 'basket of sins hanging behind him.' Another reason given for forgiving the groom is that should some unhappy event occur in the new home, the husband or wife would be unable to cast the blame upon each other's misdeeds before marriage. Thus days when God forgave sins, such as Yom Kippur and Tu B'Av, became highly appropriate days for weddings or events that would lead to a successful match. No Days as Festive... Thus did the Sages say: "No days were as festive to Israel as the Fifteenth Av and Yom Kippur. On those days, the daughters of Jerusalem used to go out dressed in white, wearing borrowed garments (so that all might be equal).... And all Israel borrowed from one another, in order not to shame the poor. ... And the daughters of Jerusalem went out and danced in the vineyards (outside the city). Whoever had no wife went there. And what did they say? 'O youth! Lift up your eyes and see what you choose. Do not set your eyes on beauty. Set your eyes on family. False is charm and vain is beauty; a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." Great Sanctity And the Sages added: "Come and learn how great was the sanctity of these two festival days! For on all other holidays emissaries of the Bet Din (religious court) went out to places of gathering and set up a separation between men and women to prevent a spirit of levity. On these festival days, however, there was no need for such separation, since all Israel erected about themselves fences of ... holiness." Tu B'Av Backgrounder 15th Av Curios Tu B'Av and Tisha B'Av