Tu B'Av has so many traditions associated with it that are parallels for the rapture. One of the most compelling is that the Jews while wandering in the desert were (according to the Midrash) commanded by Moses to sleep in their graves once each year as punishment for not believing the spies who were sent to scout out the promised land. The Jews who slept in their graves each year would arise from their graves the next day and discover that 15,000 of the older generation had died in the night. This continued to happen until all of the older generation had died off. When at the end of forty years, the dying stopped. Tu B'Av was thus celebrated because they knew that at long last they were freed from the curse of the grave and free to enter the promised land under the leadership of Joshua.

· We all know that the name of Jesus is derived from Joshua.

· I suspect we all are aware that there is a parallel between the promised land and Heaven. The land flowing with milk and honey.

· Tu B'Av commemorates when all the chosen people rose from their graves alive! When no one had died in their graves thus signifying that at last they were free to enter the promised land!

· The Jews celebrated by allowing the virgins to dress in white and dance in the vineyards to attract husbands.

· The celebration of Tu B'Av became closely associated with courtship, marriage and the triumph of life over death.

Valerie, Sharon, Mary,

I hope it is Tu B!!!!!! (good one Valerie)