(1) LIVING WITH MOSHIACH, 25 Adar
Yshagalov
LIVING WITH MOSHIACH
Weekly Digest About Moshiach
25 ADAR, 5761
SPECIAL FEATURE:
Celebrate Your Birthday
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5761
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THIS PUBLICATION IS DEDICATED TO THE REBBE,
RABBI MENACHEM M. SCHNEERSON
OF LUBAVITCH
"I BELIEVE WITH COMPLETE FAITH IN THE ARRIVAL OF THE MOSHIACH.
"AND THOUGH HE MAY TARRY, I SHALL WAIT EACH DAY, ANTICIPATING
HIS ARRIVAL." Maimonides, Principles of the Faith, No. 12
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* TABLE OF CONTENTS *
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* Introduction.
* Birthday Celebrations
* The Rebbe's Prophecy
* Your Jewish Birthday
* Birthday Customs and Practices
* Happy Birthday To You
* Your Birthday - A Day of Good Luck
* A Birthday Wish
* Whose Birthday Is It?
* A Call To Action
* Moshiach Information Hotlines.
* Moshiach In The Air - Electronic Media.
* Subscription Information for this Weekly Magazine:
Living With Moshiach.
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* INTRODUCTION *
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In honor of the 100th birthday of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, the
Rebbe's wife, on Tuesday, Adar 25 (March 20), we are pleased to
present, to the visually impaired and the blind, this special issue
of Living With Moshiach.
*
In this special issue, we focus on the Rebbe's innovative
campaign to celebrate birthdays in the traditional Jewish manner,
that the Rebbe initiated on 25 Adar, 5748/1988, in connection with
the Rebbetzin's 87th birthday.
*
Our sincere appreciation to L'Chaim weekly publication,
published by the Lubavitch Youth Organization, for allowing us to
use their material.
Also, many thanks to our copy editor, Reb Mordechai Staiman, for
his tireless efforts.
*
It is our fervent hope that our learning about Moshiach and the
Redemption will hasten the coming of Moshiach, NOW!
Rabbi Yosef Y. Shagalov
Administrator
Committee for the Blind
E-Mail: y...@dorsai.org
25 Adar, 5761
100th birthday of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka
Brooklyn, New York
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Reb Avraham ben Reb Pinchos
Tewel
Passed away, on 19 Shevat, 5761
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* BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS *
* Adapted from the Works of the Rebbe *
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The holiday of Passover, commemorating the liberation of the
Jewish people from Egypt, has often been referred to as the
birthday of the Jewish nation. The prophet Ezekiel expressed this
analogy quite graphically: "And as for your birth, on the day you
were born..." Rashi explains that because the Exodus was seen as
the birth of the Jewish people the prophet speaks metaphorically of
the Exodus in the terms of a newborn baby.
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, for the Jewish people who gained another member, 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 G-d, 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 Jew
should be appropriately observed. An individual's birthday can be
utilized to strengthen and increase all aspects of Judaism,
starting with Jewish studies, prayer and charity. These good
practices should be observed on the birthday and good resolutions
for the future should be accepted.
Most importantly, invite your family and friends for a festive
gathering (to celebrate the mitzvah) on your birthday and the
joyous party will encourage others to accept good resolutions. The
happiness that is generated will imbue your future observance with
enthusiasm and zeal.
What is the celebration all about?
Ostensibly, birthdays are quite secular affairs, every person
has one once a year, a day in which his "fortune rises." In fact,
in Torah the only birthday singled out for any mention was
Pharaoh's birthday!
Nevertheless, a Jew 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 mitzvot. One's birthday is
a time for reflection, when one should remember and think about
those aspects of his life needing improvement.
Children should be taught the spiritual importance of a birthday
and they should celebrate with their friends in a way that they
will increase Torah, mitzvot, and good resolutions. Small children
will be even more impressed by this suggestion and will be more
enthusiastic in carrying it out.
On one's birthday he 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 mitzvot. This commemoration
crystalizes in the fact that at the celebration itself there will
be more Torah and mitzvot and more good resolutions for the future.
This joyous celebration 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 the commemoration of the past and solemnization of
the future.
Such a celebration is also connected to the fact that on his
13th birthday a boy enters the age of maturity and is responsible
for observing the 613 mitzvot. The same is true of a girl on her
12th birthday. The assumption 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 that he or she
accepts the yoke of mitzvot.
For this reason men and women above bar/bat mitzvah age should
see in their birthday's additional significance: 1) It is the
anniversary of their physical birth; 2) It is the anniversary of
maturity, or spiritual birth.
With this is 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 in becoming one year older.
This is not a new custom, rather an extension of the
responsibility everyone has to encourage others to increase Torah
and mitzvot 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 is based on the practices of
the great Jewish leaders.
Since the "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 birth of the Jewish people, the true
Redemption.
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* THE REBBE'S PROPHECY *
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The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of Lubavitch, issued
a call that "THE TIME OF OUR REDEMPTION HAS ARRIVED!" and
"MOSHIACH IS ON HIS WAY!"
The Rebbe stressed that he is saying this AS A PROPHECY, and
asks us all to prepare ourselves for the Redemption, through
increasing acts of goodness and kindness.
LET US ALL HEED THE REBBE'S CALL.
_______________
See "Living With Moshiach" Vol 212:
http://www.moshiach.net/blind/lwm-5760/212.htm
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* IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR GRANDPARENTS, *
* *
* Reb Shmuel Pesach Ben Reb Yaakov Dovid *
* Passed away on 3 Tishrei, 5755 *
* *
* Mrs. Fraidel Chedvah Bas Reb Zev Wolf *
* On the occasion of her sixth yahrtzeit, *
* 4 Adar, 5761 *
* Pais *
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* YOUR JEWISH BIRTHDAY *
* Birthday Reflections and Celebrations *
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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, for the Jewish people who gained another member, 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 Jew
should be appropriately observed. An individual's birthday can be
utilized to strengthen and increase all aspects of Yiddishkeit--
Judaism, Torah and mitzvot, 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 and 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, to the Jewish people and to the
individual, and for this, one should 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!
Nevertheless, a Jew 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 mitzvot. 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" (HaYom Yom, 11th Nissan). This should be achieved by
increasing Torah and prayer on the birthday, as well as charity and
other mitzvot. 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. The Zohar relates that on
the day of R. Elazar's (Rashbi's--Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai--son's)
Bar Mitzvah, Rashbi made a great celebration. The Zohar further
explains that the day of a Bar Mitzvah is analogous to the joyous
day of a wedding.
The Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, revealed
that on a birthday one should review his life history and seek ways
to improve the areas that need improvement through Teshuvah--
Repentance. (Just as the Exodus was a form of repentance so, too,
every birthday must bring repentance.) It is also customary to
increase in tzeddakah--charity before the morning and afternoon
services, and likewise to study more Torah--revealed and esoteric
--on one's birthday.
Birthday--Rebirth--Resolve
It is therefore appropriate to publicize all the good customs of
birthdays: to increase in charity 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 mitzvot 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 mitzvot. This commemoration
crystallizes in the fact that at the celebration itself there will
be more Torah and mitzvot 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 613 mitzvot. The same is true of a girl on her 12th
birthday. Since every Jew has the "presumption of righteousness"
the assumption is that this young boy or girl will certainly grow
up to fulfill the dictates of the Torah.
Consequently, there is a reason to rejoice at the time he or she
accepts the yoke of mitzvot. As the Shulchan Aruch--Code of Jewish
Law--explains: The consummate indwelling of the holy soul in a
person takes place on the 13th birthday (lit: 13 years and a day)
for a male and the 12th birthday for a female. For this reason they
become responsible by Biblical law to fulfill the mitzvot of the
Torah. 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!
How do we carry out the command "Make Me a sanctuary" in a way
that even the mundane aspects of a Jew's life will be holy? One
suggestion is for every Jew, man, woman or child to carry out the
good custom of celebrating their birthday in a manner that connects
it with Torah and mitzvot.
There is a golden opportunity on a birthday to influence a
person to increased Torah and mitzvot, for it is a time when one's
mazal--good fortune, 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 good and holiness. A happy celebration should be
organized for the child when he/she and his/her friends will
joyously accept good resolutions in Torah and mitzvot.
Use the birthday as a time to increase goodness and holiness in
Torah and mitzvot. We are at the close of the diaspora 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 ascents." A Jew's inner spirituality has the power to
eclipse his mundanity and he becomes completely nullified
(attached) to the Holy One, Blessed be He.