Yom Holedes Commemoration - Part I

00:01 This evening, we will, im yirtze Hashem, begin a new series on the topic of yom ha'ledet, birthday. The Rebbe has over the years instructed and advised Hasidim to commemorate their yom ha'ledet with specific customs. This signified that a birth date is a milestone in the person's life. In the following installments, we will discuss various aspects about this unique topic. First, with the sicha which the Rebbe spoke during the farbrengen on Shabbos Parshas Vayeira, the twentieth of Cheshvan, Tu B'Shevat, late 1979. As an exception at the time, the entire farbrengen was edited by the Rebbe. The Rebbe began as follows, as it is translated here in English. This farbrengen is connected with the date of Chof Cheshvan, the twentieth of Cheshvan, the birthday of the Rebbe Rashab. The previous Rebbe, who was the successor of the Rebbe Rashab, revealed the significance of a birthday based on the Jerusalem Talmud, the Yerushalmi, the Tractate of Rosh Hashanah, Chapter Three, Halakha Eight, that explains that it is a day when one's mazel, the spiritual source of the soul, shines powerfully. The previous Rebbe began the major spread of Hasidus to bring it to the outer reaches. This can be seen by the fact that before he became Rebbe, this concept was only known to a select few. When he revealed it, however, he said that it should be printed so that it would be accessible for everyone. Until the previous Rebbe's time, the significance of a birth date was known only by a select few. However, the previous

02:24 Rebbe revealed the concept in a manner that could be appreciated by all Jews. There are those who might ask, why, if it is such an important principle, was it not revealed in the previous generations? The answer is that we can see parallels to this pattern in Torah. Many concepts were scheduled to be revealed at a specific time. Before that time, the idea was unknown, and when the time came, the concept was revealed. We can see examples of this in the Torah Shebeksav, the written law, and Torah Sheba'al Peh, the oral law. In the latter category, we find a principle. Every new concept that a faithful disciple would discover was given to Moshe at Mount Sinai. For a long time, the concept was not revealed, although it had been given to Moshe at Mount Sinai. During that period, the Jewish people were not obligated to carry out the practices connected with that concept. However, once that concept was revealed, fulfillment of its directives brought the merit received by one who is commanded and fulfills. The same principle can be applied to Torah in general. The Midrash declares that the Torah should have been given to Adam, the first man. Torah existed even before the creation. The famous quote, Hashem looked into the Torah and created the world. And the second quote from our sages, the world was created for the sake of Torah. Therefore, it should have been given immediately. However, Hashem has made everything beautiful in its time. This is a verse in Kohelet, Chapter

04:34 Three, Verse Eleven, and did not reveal the Torah until twenty-six generations later. In particular, this principle applies to the concept of a birth date described above. It was in the year Taf Shin Mem Ches, 1988, on the twenty-fifth of Adar, the birth date of the Rebbe Tzchaikha Mushka, the Rebbe's wife. The Rebbe then came out with a call of Miftza Yom Ha'ledet that everyone should commemorate their Yom Ha'ledet. And a month later, at the farbrengen of Achashverosh Pesach, the Rebbe elaborated additional insights on, the Rebbe elaborated on additional insights beneath to the Yom Ha'ledet and the customs that should be practiced on the day of Yom Ha'ledet. In total, ten different minhogim. We will read it here as it is translated in English. Number one, find an enclave in time and space to think about the past year. What went right, what went not so right, and what can be fixed. Two, take your life to a new level with a new mitzvah. Take your life to a new level, take upon yourself a new mitzvah. Three, give some extra charity today. Best just before the morning and afternoon prayers. If your birthday falls on Shabbos or a Jewish holiday, then give before the day begins and after it is out. Four, spend more time on your prayers. Say some extra Tehillim. Your mazel shines extra strong on your birthday. Five, every year of your life has a corresponding chapter in Tehillim. It is your age plus one. Learn it today and say it each

07:13 day for the coming year. Seven, add to your Torah study time. Share whatever you learn with friends. Eight, farbreng. That is when friends sit together, make l'chaim, and encourage each other to be better Jews. It is also a great way to publicly thank your Creator for creating your life. Nine, eat a new seasonal fruit on your birthday, just so you can say the Shehecheyanu blessing, thanking Hashem for granting you life. And ten, for men, get an aliyah on the Shabbos before your birthday. If the Torah is read on your birthday, get an aliyah on that day too. Im yirtzeh Hashem, in the next installment, we will continue with this topic.