1. The Importance of Celebrating Birthdays
Today is my birthday, and I felt it was important not to cancel our regular class because of it. In fact, the Rebbe teaches that on a birthday, one should increase in Torah study and good deeds, not decrease. Birthdays are often seen as a time for children to celebrate, but as adults, many people shy away from marking the occasion. The Rebbe, however, saw every event—even something as mundane as a birthday—as an opportunity for inspiration and growth. He encouraged us to gather with friends, say l’chayim—to life, and use the day to bless others with health, happiness, and all good things.
The Rebbe also emphasized that a birthday is a personal Rosh Hashanah—a time for reflection and making positive resolutions for the coming year. Just as Rosh Hashanah marks the creation of the world and prompts us to improve ourselves, so too should our birthdays inspire us to add more Torah learning, increase our mitzvah observance, and enhance our intentions in prayer. While legal matters may use your English birthday, the true spiritual significance lies in your Hebrew birthday.
2. Reflections on American Independence and Divine Trust
Today is also July 4th—Independence Day in America. The Rebbe often spoke about how fortunate we are to live in this country at this time. Despite its flaws and challenges, America offers unprecedented opportunity and kindness compared to much of Jewish history elsewhere. On American currency appears the phrase “In God We Trust.” The Rebbe explained that this is more profound than simply believing in God; it’s about truly trusting Him.
The difference between belief and trust is significant. You can believe in God’s existence yet not rely on Him fully—as illustrated by the Talmudic example of a thief who prays for success while committing a crime. He believes God exists but doesn’t trust Him enough to provide honestly. Trust means relying on Hashem completely, knowing He will do what’s best for us. This level of trust itself can be transformative: thinking positively and trusting Hashem creates an opening for positive outcomes.
3. Lessons from Parshas Bollock: Foundations of Jewish Strength
This week’s parsha is Parshas Bollock. In it, King Bollock hires Bilam to curse the Jewish people, but Hashem turns his curses into blessings instead. Bilam describes seeing Israel as coming from “mighty boulders” (Rosh Tzurim) and “great hills” (Megvois). Rashi explains these refer to our forefathers Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov (the boulders), and our foremothers Sarah, Rivka, Rachel, Leah (the hills). Our strength comes from being anchored in these powerful roots.
This idea echoes throughout Jewish history: despite threats from enemies like Iran or ancient oppressors such as Lavan or Pharaoh, Am Yisrael Chai—the Jewish people endure while their adversaries fade away. Our foundation ensures our survival through all challenges.
4. The Debate Between Holiness and Mundanity: Yaakov vs Lavan
The Torah recounts Yaakov’s years working for Lavan and their eventual confrontation when Yaakov leaves with his family. Lavan claims ownership over his daughters (Yaakov’s wives) and grandchildren: “Habonos bonosai v’hayilodim yilodai—these daughters are mine and these children are mine.” On a mystical level, this represents a deeper debate: does what we do outside explicit mitzvahs belong to holiness or remain mundane?
Lavan argues that only overtly holy acts (like prayer or mitzvahs) belong to Hashem; everything else—jobs, daily routines—are just ordinary life with no spiritual value. This view parallels the old German-Jewish philosophy: “Zei yehudi b’veisecha u’adam b’tzeisecha”—‘Be a Jew at home but a person outside.’
Bilaam himself was actually descended from Lavan (a detail I learned recently), which gives further depth to his role in this week’s parsha: he comes to correct Lavan’s mistaken perspective by affirming that even mundane activities can be connected to Hashem when done with proper intent.
5. Integrating Holiness into Everyday Life
The Rebbe teaches that everything we do can be part of serving Hashem—not just formal mitzvahs but also earning a living or caring for family when done with holy purpose. When we use our resources for good—giving children a Jewish education or supporting community needs—even mundane work becomes sanctified.
This extends even into Torah study itself: is understanding Torah merely an intellectual pursuit or something inherently holy? Some might argue that only what we comprehend intellectually belongs to us while the rest remains separate from holiness. But true Jewish perspective insists there is no separation between holy and mundane when approached with proper intention.
6. The Power of Trusting Hashem in All Aspects of Life
Bilaam’s correction of Lavan’s argument reinforces this point: everything we do is inspired by Hashem if we approach it with trust rather than mere belief. For example, when planting seeds in a field, anyone might expect them to grow naturally—but a Jew sows with faith (b’chai olamim) that Hashem will bring success.
This trust applies not only in spiritual matters but also in everyday actions: whether at work or at home, whether learning Torah or engaging in business dealings, we recognize Hashem’s presence everywhere.
7. Yud Beis Tammuz: Courage Under Oppression
The story of Yud Beis Tammuz centers on the Previous Rebbe’s liberation from Soviet imprisonment in 1927 under Stalinist oppression. Despite being subjected to harsh treatment simply for maintaining Jewish tradition and teaching Torah, he refused to yield or cooperate with his captors’ demands.
A famous episode illustrates his courage: when threatened by an interrogator waving a revolver (“this toy has opened many mouths”), the Previous Rebbe replied that such threats only frighten those who have more than one god and only one world—‘but I have one God and two worlds’. His unshakable trust in Hashem gave him strength beyond ordinary human capacity.
8. Discovering Hidden Strength Through Challenge
The Previous Rebbe later reflected that enduring suffering brought out inner strengths he hadn’t known he possessed before facing such trials. This resonates personally for me when I think about my own father who lived through Stalinist times despite being naturally cautious by temperament.
Often we underestimate ourselves until faced with real challenge—sometimes thinking we couldn’t withstand hardship or achieve greatness in Torah learning or mitzvah observance. But adversity can reveal hidden reserves of courage and faith within us if we trust Hashem has given us both the challenge and the strength needed to overcome it.
The lesson is not to seek out tests but to recognize that if they come our way, they may serve as opportunities for growth beyond what we imagined possible.