Dear Reader sh’yichyeh,
This Shabbos (VaYikra) is the first Shabbos of Adar Sheini. This is the month that we actually celebrate and give thanks to Hashem for the miraculous deliverance during the time of the Purim story. It is well known that the miracles of Purim were in the merit of the birthday of Moshe Rabbeinu. As the Talmud (Megilla 13b) teaches us, at first Haman wished to destroy Mordechai alone but he changed his mind and decided to destroy all the Jews. When Haman was casting the lots, he saw that the lot fell on the month of Adar. He thought that this was a great sign, as Moshe Rabbeinu had died in Adar and the month would therefore be unlucky for the Jews. However, Haman did not realize that while Moshe Rabbeinu died on the seventh of Adar, he was also born on the seventh of Adar. Rashi explains: Moshe’s birth on that day compensated for the day’s negative aspect of being the day of his death.
For many years, the concept of celebrating personal birthdays was not considered a “Jewish thing”. Firstly, the only recorded birthday party in the Torah is the one celebrated by Pharaoh the king of Egypt (Parshas Mikeitz). Secondly, there is an expression that “age is not on the passport” and one is judged by his productivity and not by age.
Yet, many Tzaddikim celebrated birthdays throughout the generations, but it was kept secret. When the Rebbe printed the HaYom Yom, the Frierdike Rebbe agreed to make this concept public and he did so in the HaYom Yom entry of 11 Nissan. [At the time, Chassidim did not know that this was the Rebbe’s birthday. And parenthetically, this is one of the advantages of having an extra month of Adar; it allows us to have more time to properly prepare for the Rebbe’s birthday on 11 Nissan.] The Rebbe writes: “On his birthday, one should spend time in seclusion. He should recall his experiences and think deeply into them. He should then repent and correct those (of his past deeds) that need correction and repentance.”
Even after the publication of the HaYom Yom, there still wasn’t a campaign to celebrate birthdays. On 25 Adar 5748 (which is the birthday of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, the first one marked after her Histalkus on 22 Shvat) the Rebbe delivered a sicha in which he explained that according to one opinion in the Gemara, the first day of creation was – not 25 Elul, but rather – 25 Adar.
As that year was a year of Hakhel, the Rebbe announced a new campaign for men women and children: Everyone should publically celebrate their birthdays by making a farbrengen with family and/or friends (a Hakhel gathering) and accept upon themselves special new resolutions to increase their yiras Shamayim and practical observance of the Mitzvos.
This campaign is another very special tool that we have to encourage people to make a Hakhel gathering. Many people may feel uncomfortable just gathering people together for an evening of inspiration, but for a birthday party, they do feel comfortable. This is an accepted custom in the world.
[Apropos of this campaign, soon after this sicha was said, a relative of mine came to the Rebbe for “dollars” and said that his birthday was coming up. The Rebbe responded in Yiddish “Mach a hisvaadus – arrange a Farbrengen.” The person was not able to hear well, so he asked “What?” To which the Rebbe smiled and said in English “Make a Party!”]
The concept of birthdays is very connected to Moshiach. Exile is likened to pregnancy, and the Redemption is likened to birth, as it is written, “For Tziyon has been in labor, and has given birth to her children.”
Our Chachomim teach that when an infant is in his mother’s womb, “his head is between his knees,” not carrying out its function. It does not think, and though he has eyes they do not see. Also, “his mouth is closed and his navel is open;” i.e., his nourishment (for he eats what his mother eats) passes through his navel into his stomach and makes his body grow, rather than passing through his mouth, from which it would animate the heart and brain.
These two situations also characterize the Jewish people during the period of exile:
Since Hashem removed the revelation of His Presence from this world, we do not behold the Divine light. Moreover, the Or that wells from one’s performance of mitzvos does not enter through the mouth, from which it would animate the heart and brain, giving rise to a knowledge and love of G-d; rather, divine service is carried out frigidly, “a commandment which men perform by rote.”
This is the essence of the spiritual meaning of exile.
Accordingly, the ultimate perfection of the days of Moshiach is a kind of birth – a revelation of the light of G-d within the deepest recesses of a man’s heart. As it is written, “The glory of G-d will be revealed, and all flesh [together] will see [that the mouth of G-d has spoken];” and likewise too it is written, “For they shall see eye to eye [when G-d returns to Zion].”
Rabbi Avtzon is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati and a well sought after speaker and lecturer. Recordings of his in-depth shiurim on Inyanei Geula u’Moshiach can be accessed at http://ylcrecording.com