Tu B'Av (2):The Temple of the Future

The Mishnah at the end of Ta'anis says the following:
לא היו ימים טובים לישראל כחמשה עשר באב ויום כיפורים.
There were no days as as glad as Yom Kippur and the Fifteenth of Av. The content of the Mishna speaks about how the girls would go into the fields for Shidduch prospects on these dates.

The conclusion contains an exposition on the following words from Shir HaShirim: "ביום חתונתו ביום שמחת לבו - on the day of his wedding and the day of the gladness of his heart" ביום חתונתו זו מתן תורה - The day of his wedding is the day on which the Torah was given. ביום שמחת לבו זה בנין בית המקדש שיבנה במהרה בימינו - The day of his heart's gladness is the building of the Beis HaMikdash, may it be built speedily in our days.

This conclusion is somewhat difficult. The Mishnah begins by speaking about two particular dates: Yom Kippur and Tu B'Av. It concludes by speaking about something completely different: Shavuos and the building of the future Beis HaMikdash. Where is the common theme? (ע"ש בנו"כ שדחקו מאוד בק' זו)

R' Tzadok HaKohen explains as follows (לחמשה עשר באב, ב):
The lasting Matan Torah was not on Shavuos, rather on Yom Kippur when we received the second set of Luchos that didn't break. ביום חתונתו זו מתן תורה goes back on Yom Kippur. And ביום שמחת לבו זה בנין בית המקדש שיבנה במהרה בימינו? That's going on Tu B'av, the date of the building of the final Beis HaMikdash! (He brings proof to this from the Midrash)

As we explained before, the prototypical relationship of G-d and Jew was set in place on the Tu B'Av before the world was even a potential reality. We see now that the culmination of history climaxes by bringing that relationship full circle. (וזה העומק בהנ"ל בענין "המגיד מראשית אחרית" והמבין יבין)

The Beis HaMikdash was built around HaKadosh Baruch Hu's love for the people. When the Jews would come to visit they would be shown the Keruvim in the Kodesh HaKodashim embracing and be told, "ראו חיבתכם - see how Hashem loves you!"

We should take the opportunity to Daven with all of our might that this year we may yet see the realization of this amazing possibility: ביום שמחת לבו זה בנין בית המקדש שיבנה במהרה בימינו, אמן

The other obvious ramification of this is that the future Beis HaMikdash will be a space of a pure outporing of constant love. That will be the Temple. The place where the Jews come to solidify, strengthen and deepen their connection to their Father in Heaven