OVERVIEW:

Tu B’Av or the 15^th of Av^[1]  is now known as the Jewish holiday of love! Originally it was a post-biblical day of joy, commonly associated with matchmaking and the grape harvest. For a long time, Tu B’Av was insignificant in the Jewish calendar. However, with the popularity of Valentines Day, Tu B’Av is back on the scene as the “Jewish Valentines Day!” The Talmud tells us that on this day the young women of tribes of Israel would go out dressed in borrowed white dresses and dance in the vineyards. There is meaning in the borrowed dresses: we are told that the women borrowed from one another so as not to embarrass those who did not have a dress. The unmarried men would likewise go to the vineyards to try to find a wife. Although the wife-seeking aspect of this holiday is outdated we can still find joy in celebrating love of all kinds! This program is a low lift, low-cost way for your community to celebrate Tu B’Av and give back to your community. Guests will learn about Tu B’Av through asynchronous learning/discussion cards as they participate in a clothing swap and then a dance party! Have your guests find a new party outfit and then dance the night away! Plus, all clothing not claimed at the end of the night can be donated!

MATERIALS: 

• Printed Tu B’Av Learning/Discussion Cards  

○ Optional: Stands for the Learning/Discussion Cards 

○ Optional: Tape to hang up the Learning/Discussion Cards 

○ Optional: Signs to categorize clothing for the swap (Ex. “Shirts,” “Pants,” Etc…)  

• Speaker(s)
• Device for playing music 
• Dance Playlist 
• Tu B’Av Themed Snacks (ie. grapes, grape juice, wine, PB&J (with grape jelly), stuffed grape leaves, grape popsicles, oatmeal raisin cookies, etc…) 

PROGRAM OUTLINE: (60min+) 

• Welcome and Framing 
• Clothing Swap
• Dance Party 

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[1] In Hebrew, “Tu” (ט״ו) represents the number 15. This is because the Hebrew letters Tet (ט) and Vav (ו) have numerical values of 9 and 6 respectively, and when combined, they equal 15.

PROGRAM DETAILS:  

Beginning – Welcome and Framing  

● For this event use the Tu B’Av Learning/Discussion Cards as the framing so people can engage with the learning/framing asynchronously as they arrive. 

Middle – Clothing Swap  

• Have signage out in a high traffic location to guide guests to the clothing swap. 

• Consider having additional signage to categorize clothing for the swap (Ex. “Shirts,” “Pants,” Etc…)  

End – Dance Party 

• Have music playing as guests arrive!

• Invite people to participate in the clothing swap, graze from the Tu B’Av themed snacks, and dance the night away!!