The holiday of Tu B’Av which commences tonight, the 15th of Av , is considered an enigmatic day due to its proximity to the saddest day of the Jewish calendar Tisha B’ Av on the 9th of Av and its opposite focus on happiness and rejoicing. As a tribute to the day, the Mishnah declares:

“There were no days as joyous for the Jewish people as the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur,” On this day “the maidens of Jerusalem would go out and dance in the vineyards. And what would they say? Young man, please lift up your eyes and see what you choose for yourself.” [1]

A Salute to the Established Middle Age Couples

In addition to the association with “matchmaking,” couples of all stages can celebrate the holiday for the core value of marriage which it highlights. And at each stage, the opportunity for finding renewed expressions of love is replete with meaning and content. This is especially true for established middle-age couples (roughly ages 45-70), which are often overlooked in the seasons of marriage cycles.

This blog is dedicated to this stage of marriage and what Tu B’Av can demonstrate for marriage renewal.

In fact, after decades of marriage, raising children, careers, caring for aging parents, financial........

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