Tu B’Av (literally, the 15th of the month of Av) is a minor Jewish holiday that has become a major driver for late summer romance and romantic gift giving.
In fact, a recent study by the Jewish People Policy Institute found that while most Israelis know about Tu b’Av, only one in 10 is familiar with Valentine’s Day.
The survey of 3,000 Israeli Jews found that 37% planned to purchase a gift or flowers for their spouse for Tu b’Av, compared with 19% for Valentine’s Day and 34% of Israelis said they would “do something romantic” with their partner on Tu b’Av, compared with 21% on Valentine’s Day.
In honor of Tu B’Av — this year, coinciding with August 16 — Israel21 presents a selection from the National Photograph Collection, which isn’t limited to merely photographing politicians shaking hands with visiting dignitaries, but actually presents a kind of “photographic history book” of the State of Israel.
Enjoy the photos of lovers in love, as documented by Government Press Office photographers, from the earliest days of pre-State Israel and up until the present day.







