It will be a great day… in fact Tu B’Av was always a great day for shidduchim.. for thousands of years.
Thousands of Jews from across the globe, united in tefillah for all singles in Klal Yisrael. This momentous occasion will take place this coming Friday July 27th the holy day of Tu B’Av at 9:00 am. In a special initiative called “Tu B’Av Together, the well-known kiruv and rescue organization Yad L’Achim has spearheaded this movement as a zechus so that the women they rescue merit finding their bashert. At the same time that a minyan of talmidei chachamim will be davening in Amuka (names can be submitted for free), all of Klal Yisrael will get together wherever they are and recite the following eight chapters of tehillim.
How did Tu B’Av Together come to be? What was the story behind this special initiative to benefit all singles in Klal Yisrael? This is that story.
With the support of Gedolei Yisrael, Yad L’Achim was founded over 60 years ago by Rav Sholom Dov Lifshitz zt”l to help with new immigrants to Eretz Yisrael. One of the first kiruv organizations ever created, over the years Yad L’Achim helped with Russian and French immigrants, placing thousands of boys and girls into yeshivas throughout Eretz Yisrael.
After receiving many calls about Jewish women trapped in Arab Villages, Yad L’Achim established an entire division dedicated to prevention as well as the rescue of trapped women and children. Often, these women are rescued with nothing more than the clothes they are wearing at the time. Yad L’Achim helps rehabilitate them and make sure they are put on the healthy road to a new life. This involves of course, food, shelter, and clothing as well as help in many aspects of their lives.
With Hashem’s help, many women rescued have gone on to marry Bnei Torah and establish beautiful Jewish homes that will iy”H last for generations.
For many years, Yad L’Achim would arrange for talmidei chachamim to daven on behalf of these women so that they merit finding their bashert. As time went on, Yad L’Achim began accepting names from Jews throughout the world who wanted tefillah for a shidduch or any other personal request. Names can always be submitted for tefillah to Yad L’Achim even without a donation; in a policy instituted by Rav Lifschitz zt”l. One of the most popular times of the year when people would submit their names was before the holy day of Tu B’Av, the 15th day of Av. Tu B’Av has been synonymous with shidduchim from the times of chazal and is mentioned as a joyous day in Maseches Taanis, “There have never been such good days for Klal Yisrael like Tu B’Av and Yom Kippur”
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From time to time, Yad L’Achim hosts special events featuring a speech by women who were rescued through Yad L’Achim. Other times the speaker would be someone who did the rescuing. After all events, a common occurrence took place. Attendees approached the speaker or Yad L’Achim staff and asked for the names of the rescued women and children and to daven for Yad L’Achim’s success. The natural desire of Jews to help other Jews shined through. Mi K’Amcha Yisrael.
The Jewish people have been connected through tefillah in times of happiness and sorrow. Klal Yisrael have a natural desire to help each other and one of the great ways is to daven for one another.
In light of all of the above, after consultation with Rabbonim and Gedolei Yisrael, “Tu B’Av Together” was established. A day when the Jewish people can unite in tefillah for all singles in Klal Yisrael in need of a shidduch. The talmidei chachamim will be in Amuka all day of Tu B’Av to daven for all the names submitted to Yad L’Achim (no donation required to submit names). However for a few moments all of Klal Yisrael will unite in tefillah. Of significance is the Chazal, “Kol hamispallel b’ad chavero hu ne’eneh techila.”
On Friday morning, Tu B’Av, (July 27th ), at 10:00 am EST, Yidden from all stripes of life will daven the following kapitlach: ל”ב, ל”ח, ע‘, פ”ב, קכ”א, קכ”ד, קכ”ז, קכ”ח (Psalms 32, 38, 70, 82, 121, 124, 127, 128).
It would be wonderful if people would get together, share the message of Tu B’Av Together and daven for each other on this special day.
Yad L’Achim has established the website WWW.TUBAV.ORG where people can
- Download the Tehillim for Tu B’Av Together
- Submit names for tefillah in Amuka – no donation required to submit names
- Learn more about this special day.
For more information or to submit names call Yad L’Achim at 1-866-923-5224 or visit WWW.TUBAV.ORG
