Yom Holedes - Part VI

00:00 The hemsach to the earlier installments regarding the Yemeledes birthday and its customs, aspects, and lessons, we continue now with installment number six, discussing the Rebbe's insights about the birthday being a joyous event for the celebrity, the person who is commemorating his birthday. In a Sichha Shabbos Parshavah Yitzitov Shinlametes, late 1978, the Rebbe said the following, as it is translated here in English. A birthday possesses unique importance. The Talmud explains that before a Yid's birth, a candle was lit over his head and the angels taught him the entire Torah. Even though prior to birth, an angel slapped him across the mouth and caused him to forget those teachings, that loss of memory affected only his ability for cognitive recall. The spiritual influence and the holiness imparted during the instruction still remains intact. An individual's birthday marks the revelation of his full potential. Therefore, we see by the Rabbeim that on the Yemeledes, there are many customs and concepts which express joy. In a Sichha Tov Shinmemches, 1988, the Rebbe said the following. That on a birthday, a person needs to praise and thank Hashem, permeated with joy when his Yemeledes arrives, comes around every year. When he remembers and thinks about the Chazdei Hashem, the graciousness that Hashem did with him in relationship to his general entity as a Metzius, a being, beginning from his birth. As the Talmud tells us in the Tractate of Tainis, that birth is one of the Inyanim that is in the hands of Hashem that was not given over to

02:40 an emissary. The Rebbe quotes from the Medrash, Medrash Sechol Tev on Parses Vayichev, that says the following. Many people cherish the day that marks a complete year in their life. This reflects the day they were born. They rejoice on this day and they make a Mishta, a feast. On Yud Aleph Nisan Tov Shinmemvov, 1986, the Rebbe began distributing dollars for everyone who approached the Rebbe, and this went on Sunday after Sunday into 1992, the 26th of the first Adar. Thousands upon thousands of people were on the lines waiting to receive a dollar and a bracha from the Rebbe. Amongst these many people, there were individuals who had a Yemeledes, a birthday, either on that day or in one of the upcoming days. They would tell the Rebbe about it. The Rebbe would give them a bracha and a dollar. To many, the Rebbe said that surely you will make a fabringen. You will gather people together in honor of the Yem Ha'iledes, the birth date. On one of the occasions, the Rebbe said you should make a party and by bringing joy to others, this will increase the joy by the person himself who is bringing this joy. To another person, the Rebbe said if the party will be to a great extent, I will participate in the expenses, the Rebbe told this person. To another person, the Rebbe gave an additional dollar for expenses of the fabringen and the Rebbe told him don't be afraid of the budget. To a person who had a

05:22 Yemeledes a day prior to receiving the dollar from the Rebbe, the Rebbe told him you should have a happy year.