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Based on an essay from Sichos in English, with minor editing for Noahides
by the Director of www.asknoah.org.
Birthdays are for parties! Gather young and old, family
and friends to celebrate your birthday -- emphasize Torah and the mitzvos [commandments], and make positive resolutions
for the future. All your actions in the coming year will be greatly enhanced.
Publisher's Foreword
During the months of Adar, Nissan and Iyar of 5748, the Rebbe devoted many of his sichos [talks] to the potential religious importance of birthday celebrations.
Citing Halachic and Aggadic sources, as well as traditional Chassidic practices, the Rebbe has urged everyone to
make appropriate gatherings on birthdays and to encourage and emphasize more Torah study, more
Tzedakah (charity), etc.
This essay is based on several discourses from the 25th of Adar, the Sabbath before the month of Nissan, the 11th
& 13th of Nissan, the Last Day of Pesach, and Shabbos Shemini, as well as the letter of the Eve of the Rosh Chodesh Nissan.
In this publication we have endeavored to compose a digest of the various concepts and suggestions presented by
the Rebbe, in the hope of providing the English-speaking world with a clear idea of this important subject. We
have been forced to edit and condense some of the Sichos for the sake of continuity. We have also abstained from
including all of the technical, halachic references and the copious footnotes which a more detailed translation
should include.
Our goal is to present a clear and concise picture of the Rebbe’s ideas on the importance of birthday observance.
We hope this will encourage more and more people to follow the Rebbe’s advice. And in the merit of the increased
Torah and mitzvos -- we will create the ultimate dwelling place for the Shechinah and the ultimate salvation, through
our righteous Mashiach -- Now!
As an introduction to the essay we are printing the sicha of the 25th of Adar, 5748, the anniversary of the birth
of Rebbetzin Chayah Mushka Schneerson o.b.m., (5661-5748), which marked the initiation of the Campaign to celebrate
birthdays.
Sichos In English
Birthday Reflections
On the 25th of Adar, the anniversary of the birth of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, o.b.m.
(5661-5748), the Rebbe spoke about the lesson to be drawn from the special day -- the birthday of the world [the
first day of Creation] according to one opinion. He also used the opportunity to suggest that everyone should celebrate
his/her birthday in the manner taught by the Previous Rebbe, with introspection, Teshuvah
(return to G-d) and increased Tzedakah (charity), Torah and prayer.
Adults and small children should also be encouraged to invite their friends to their birthday gatherings and use
the opportunity to encourage others to increase Torah and mitzvos [commandments; for
Gentiles, these are the Seven Laws of Noah, and Torah study should be directed to better understanding and observance
of these Seven Laws].
A birthday represents the esoteric force of "ascending fortune." Since the living must take to heart
the lessons of the past, here, too, we can draw inspiration from this birthday to increase Torah and mitzvos. ...
The Previous Rebbe revealed that on a birthday one should review his life history and seek ways to improve the
areas that need improvement through Teshuvah. It is also customary to increase Tzedakah before praying, and likewise
to study more Torah -- revealed and esoteric -- on one’s birthday.
It is therefore appropriate on this birthday to publicize all the good customs of birthdays: to increase Tzedakah
on this day, to study more Torah and to intensify the Divine service of prayer -- these are the three pillars of
the world. Also, good resolutions should be accepted for the rest of the year.
It would be appropriate that families should gather (with friends) in a joyous mood, so that the good resolutions
will be accepted on this day, with a sense of happiness and gladness. This will increase the observance of these
good deeds.
Children should be taught the spiritual importance of a birthday and they should celebrate their birthdays with
their friends in a way that they will increase Torah and mitzvos and good resolutions. Small children will be even
more impressed by this suggestion and will be more enthusiastic in carrying it out.
This is not a new custom, rather an extension of the responsibility everyone has to encourage others to increase
Torah and mitzvos among friends, in a happy and friendly way.
To start off in a positive way I will distribute Shliach Mitzvah ("messenger for a mitzvah") dollars
to all, so that they may give the money to Tzedakah with their personal addition.
This acceptance of good resolutions in connection with this birthday should speed up the complete redemption. Tzedakah
will bring the redemption closer, may it be soon: "Today, if you heed My voice" (Tehillim 95:7). May
it be truly "Today," and may "the night [of the galus/exile] be illuminated like the day" (Ibid.
139:12).
The Concept of Birth
A fetus in his mother’s womb, near birth, is a complete, growing, living being, with a completely
formed body. It truth, however, it has no independent existence at all: it is nourished by the food the mother
eats, and wherever the mother goes, there the unborn baby is automatically carried.
From the moment the baby is born, it begins to freely move its limbs, sound its voice, and generally begins its
own development, in an entirely new manner, both physically and spiritually.
The Birth of Man
For a human being birth is a joyous time. It is a time of fulfillment for the parents who
were blessed with a son or daughter, and for the child himself/herself who came into existence. Therefore, when
a person reaches maturity, each year on his/her birthday, it is appropriate to express gratitude to the Holy One,
Blessed be He, the Giver of life.
Just as the birthday of a people is celebrated each year with rites and a ritual, so too, the birthday of an individual
should be appropriately observed. An individual’s birthday can be utilized to strengthen and increase all aspects
of Torah and mitzvos, starting with the three pillars which uphold the world: Torah, prayer and charity. These
good practices should be observed on the birthday and good resolutions for the future should be accepted.
Most importantly, gather your family or friends for a festive gathering (to celebrate the mitzvah) on your birthday
and the joyous party will encourage others to accept good resolutions -- and the happiness that is generated will
imbue your future observance with enthusiasm and zeal.
Happy Birthday!
What is the celebration all about?
Well, fundamentally one should rejoice on a birthday and give thanks and praise to G-d for giving him life. The
birth of a child brings happiness to the parents and to the individual, and for this should one give praise.
Ostensibly, birthdays are quite secular affairs, every person (Jew or Gentile) has one once a year, in which his
"fortune rises." In fact, in Torah the only birthday singled out for any mention was Pharaoh’s birthday!
[Gen. 40:20]
Nevertheless, a person has the ability to utilize his birthday -- instead of letting it pass as just another day
-- he can make it a holiday with emphasis on more Torah and mitzvos. One’s birthday is a time for reflection, when
one may "remember and think about those aspects of his life which need improvement and repentance" (from
the book HaYom Yom, entry for 11th Nissan). This should
be achieved by increasing Torah and prayer on the birthday, as well as charity and other mitzvos. Add to this a
happy gathering of family and friends with the goal of accepting good resolutions and the power of the birthday
will guarantee the fulfillment of the good promises in the future.
Birthday Celebrations
The Midrash relates:
Most people cherish the day on which they were born and make a party on that day.
(Midrash Sechel Tov, Bereishis 40:20) [See also Ginze Yosef
ch. 4; Ben Ish Chai Halachos, Year 1, Re’eh par. 17]
The Previous Rebbe revealed that on a birthday one should review his life history and seek
ways to improve the areas that need improvement through Teshuvah. [Just as the Exodus - the birth of the Jewish
People - was a form of repentance so, too, every birthday must bring repentance.] It is also customary to increase
Tzedakah before praying, and likewise to study more Torah -- revealed (i.e. practical rules for observing the mitzvos)
and esoteric (i.e. Chassidus) -- on one’s birthday.
Birthday Resolve
It is therefore appropriate to publicize all the good customs of birthdays: to increase Tzedakah
on this day, to study more Torah and to intensify the Divine service of prayer -- these are the three pillars of
the world. Also, good resolutions should be accepted for the rest of the year.
It would be appropriate that families should gather (with friends) in a joyous mood, so that the good resolutions
will be accepted on this day, with a sense of happiness and gladness. This will increase the observance of these
good deeds.
Children should be taught the spiritual importance of a birthday and they should celebrate their birthdays with
their friends in a way that they will increase Torah and mitzvos and good resolutions. Small children will be even
more impressed by this suggestion and will be more enthusiastic in carrying it out.
Now on one’s birthday one can rejoice in the knowledge that on this day his soul descended to the corporeal existence
in order to serve the Creator through Torah and mitzvos. This commemoration crystallizes in the fact that at the
celebration itself there will be more Torah and mitzvos and more good resolutions for the future. This joyous jubilee
may be observed by young and old -- for as soon as the child is able to understand and appreciate the importance
of good acts his or her birthday party will become the focal point for commemoration of the past and solemnization
of the future.
Anniversary of Physical and Spiritual Birth
Such a celebration in also connected to the fact that on his 13th birthday a boy enters the
age of maturity and is responsible to observe the mitzvos. The same is true of a girl on her 12th birthday. The
goal is that this young boy or girl will certainly grow up to fulfill the dictates of the Torah.
Consequently, there is reason to rejoice at the time he or she accepts the yoke of mitzvos.
For this reason men above 13 and women above 12 should see in their birthdays additional significance: [1] It is
the anniversary of physical birth, [2] it is the anniversary of maturity, or Spiritual birth.
With this in mind, whether you are 13, 30 or 83 you have a reason to celebrate your birthday. And at each age you
can find satisfaction and growth when you become one year older.
Why Were You Born? To Make a Sanctuary!
One suggestion is for every man, woman or child to carry out the good custom of celebrating
their birthday in a manner that connects it with Torah and mitzvos.
There is a golden opportunity on a birthday to influence a person to increased Torah and mitzvos, for it is a time
when one’s mazal is strong.
The suggestion is directed to everyone, even small children, and their parents should explain to them that on their
birthdays there should be a renewal of all aspects of goodness. A happy celebration should be organized for the
child when he and his friends will joyously accept good resolutions in Torah and mitzvos.
Use the birthday as a time to increase goodness and holiness in Torah and mitzvos. We are at the close of the diaspora
(exile) and we must finish the remaining steps of purification of the mundane. A birthday is a plain day -- no
holiday -- yet it is a day in which one’s "fortune ascends."
May this proposal be accepted by people -- young and old -- to celebrate individual birthdays by making joyous
parties in a manner that will enhance and increase Torah and mitzvos.
A Custom of Old -- Renewed
This is not a new custom, rather an extension of the responsibility everyone has to encourage
others to increase Torah and mitzvos among friends, in a happy and friendly way.
If for some reason this was not so common until now, it is needed now, and as we have seen, it in based on the
practices of the great Jewish leaders. In the darkness of the pre-Messianic diaspora -- we need more good deeds
that will radiate light. And this activity is tried, tested and true; it will increase good deeds, Torah and mitzvos.
Since the galus (exile) is seen as the time of incubation and the salvation as the time of birth, may our good
actions on birthdays speedily bring the ultimate true redemption.
Notes:
1. These customs (unless otherwise noted) are excerpted from the book "HaYom
Yom" -- 11th of Nissan; Sefer HaMinhagim Chabad pg. 81, Letters of Lubavitcher Rebbe, Vol. 6 Letters #1,548,
#1,858; Vol. 7 #1,898, #1,929, #2,022, #2,066, #2097, #2116, # 2146, #2210, #2226, et.al.
2. "Yechidus" to Bar Mitzvah Boys -- Likkutei Sichos, Vol. 20,
pg. 578; vol. 26 pg. 347, etc.
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Customs for a birthday
1. On your Birthday increase your contribution to Tzedakah (charity) before praying.
2. Put more time and effort into your prayer. Pray with greater concentration, meditate on
the greatness of the Creator and put more intensity in your recitation of psalms as well.
3. Read the psalm which corresponds to your new age, and which you will be saying daily through
the coming year. (E.g. when one reaches the age of 20 he begins reciting Psalm 21.)
4. In addition to your regular, daily study periods -- on your birthday study an extra lesson
in revealed Torah -- (especially the parts that explain those commandments which you must observe) -- and esoteric
teachings -- Chassidus.
5. Study a Chassidic discourse (or at least a part thereof) and review it in the presence
of a group of people on the birthday. This may also be done at another auspicious time in connection with your
birthday.
6. Reach out to your fellows and teach them Torah and Chassidus as appropriate.
7. Isolate yourself in seclusion for a while on the day of your birthday and retrospectively
[1] review your conduct for the past year -- see what needs repentance and improvement -- and make good resolutions
for the future years.
8. Accept upon yourself some new act of piety or more zealous observance in some area of
action [2] -- all within your grasp.[3]
9. Celebrate a happy party with your family and friends in honor of your birthday -- give
praise and thanks to the Holy One, Blessed Be He, -- if possible say the blessing after eating with joy and happiness.[4]
Notes:
These customs (unless otherwise noted) are excerpted from HaYom Yom -- 11th
of Nissan; Sefer HaMinhagim Chabad, pg. 81, Letters of Lubavitcher Rebbe, Vol. 6, Letters #1,548, #1,858; Vol.
7 #1,898, #1,929, #2,022, #2,066, #2097, #2116, # 2146, #2210, #2226, et.al
[1] See Letters of Lubavitcher Rebbe, Vol. 7, #2226: "Picture in your mind a yechidus [private audience] that
you had in the past, what you asked the Rebbe and what he answered -- and then study his teachings." [or visit
to the "Ohel" - the Rebbe's holy resting place.]
[2] Start by adding a new study period for Chassidus (Letters, ibid., # 2066).
[3] It is proper to accept a new aspect of religious zealousness on Rosh Hashanah, one may deduce from this that
on an individual’s personal Rosh Hashanah -- his birthday -- when his individual new year begins the same should
apply. (see Sicha, Acharon Shel Pesach 5748 fn. 33) -- Letters, ibid.
[4] Sichos: 25 Adar; Acharon Shel Pesach (et. al.) 5748.
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