1. The Rebbe’s Approach to Birthdays
The Rebbe teaches that every event in life, including a birthday, should be used as an opportunity for positive action. While some may see birthday parties as childish or focused on gifts, the Rebbe emphasizes that a birthday is a time to do something meaningful and spiritual. On his own birthday, Yud Aleph Nisan, the Rebbe wrote in Hayom Yom—the daily Chassidic calendar—that on one’s birthday, a person should take time for hisboididus—personal reflection and solitude. This is a time to recall memories from throughout one’s life, reflect on what needs improvement or teshuvah—repentance, and resolve to fix those areas. The reason this is especially appropriate on a birthday is because it is a day with unique spiritual energy and blessings from Hashem.
The Rebbe also encouraged the community to observe special customs on their birthdays to utilize the day properly. These include receiving an aliyah laTorah—being called up to the Torah—on the Shabbos before one’s birthday or on the weekday if the birthday falls then. Another custom is giving extra tzedakah—charity—before shacharis (morning prayers) and before mincha. If the birthday falls on Shabbos or Yom Tov, extra tzedakah should be given beforehand and if possible afterwards as well.
2. Birthday Customs: Tefillah, Torah, and Chessed
The Rebbe would often make others into sheluchei mitzvah—agents for a mitzvah—by giving them dollars to give tzedakah on his behalf, especially on his birthday. The purpose of these customs is to draw down extra merit and blessing from Hashem for success in the coming year.
In addition to tzedakah and aliyah, one should enhance their davening by increasing concentration (kavanah) and saying additional Tehillim—at least one of its five books. Another custom is to learn the new chapter of Tehillim corresponding to one’s age (for example, at age 12, recite chapter 13), not only reciting but also studying it in depth.
The Rebbe further instructs to increase Torah study beyond regular set times, both in revealed Torah and Chassidus. One should also recite or study a Chassidic maamar—a discourse—in public around their birthday, especially at seudah shlishis—the third Shabbos meal—if it coincides with their birthday.
3. Spiritual Accounting and Personal Growth
A key element of the birthday is making a cheshbon nefesh—soul accounting. This involves reflecting privately over the past year (and more generally over one’s whole life), reviewing actions and experiences, evaluating what was positive or needs improvement, and resolving to correct any shortcomings.
This process can be done in two ways: scanning all of life in general terms while focusing more specifically on events from the past year. The goal is to strengthen oneself in Torah observance and mitzvos as part of one’s personal “Rosh Hashanah”—a new year for each individual marked by their birthday. On this day, one should accept upon themselves an additional commitment in Torah or mitzvos—either perfecting an existing practice or taking on something new—beginning with adding a shiur in Chassidus.
4. The Importance of Farbrengen and Joyful Celebration
The Rebbe encourages making a farbrengen—a Chassidic gathering—on one's birthday with family and friends if possible. This gathering should be filled with joy in Torah and mitzvos as praise and thanks to Hashem. During the farbrengen it is customary to make a bracha—blessing—on a new fruit or garment.
The focus of all these customs is not material gifts or trivial celebrations like blowing out candles but rather meaningful spiritual activities that elevate the day.
5. Birthdays in Torah Sources
The concept of celebrating birthdays appears in several places in Torah. Avraham made a party for Yitzchak “b’yoim higomeloi soi”—on his weaning day—which was his second birthday according to some interpretations. The first explicit mention of a birthday party in Torah is with Paro: “b’yoim huledes es Paro”—on Paro’s birthday he made a feast (see story of Yosef with the baker and butler).
Biblically significant birthdays are also noted by Moshe Rabbeinu who was born and passed away on Zayin Adar—the seventh of Adar—as he himself said “today I am 120 years old.” The Gemara explains that Haman was happy when his lottery fell out in Adar because Moshe died then but did not realize Moshe was also born then—“Kedai leidosoi sheyichaper yom misaso”—the birth atones for the passing.
6. The Unique Role of Tzaddikim’s Birthdays
The birth date of great leaders like Moshe Rabbeinu or Chabad Rebbes carries special significance because their entire lives are dedicated to holiness from birth onward—as seen by Moshe being born circumcised and his house filling with light at birth (“saw ki tov hu"). For most people we cannot know at birth what they will become, so celebration may seem premature—but for tzaddikim whose lives are wholly devoted to Hashem from beginning to end, both birth and passing are celebrated as holy days.
This underscores why birthdays are important: they mark not just physical existence but hopefully continued growth in doing what is right—making them worthy occasions for reflection and rededication.
7. Yud Beis Tammuz: The Previous Rebbe’s Birthday & Redemption
The Previous Rebbe (Frierdiker Rebbe) was born on Yud Beis Tammuz (12th Tammuz), Tof-Reish-Mem (1880), as the only son of Rebbetzin Shternesorah (wife of the Rebbe Rashab). This unique status meant he received all spiritual inheritance directly from his father without division among siblings—a point often emphasized by our Rebbe.
The Previous Rebbe lived seventy years (passing away Yud Shvat Tof-Shin-Yud). Remarkably, when he turned 47—in Taf-Reish-Pei-Zayin—he was released from Soviet imprisonment precisely on his birthday (Yud Beis Tammuz), an extraordinary “birthday present.” His father had hinted earlier that he would see Hashem’s kindness (“chesed v’rachamim”) on his birthday—a prophecy fulfilled through this miraculous redemption which preserved Jewish life throughout Russia and beyond.
8. The Arrest Narrative: Courage Amidst Persecution
The Previous Rebbe describes his arrest during those turbulent times: after midnight following many hours receiving visitors (yechidus) at home between Tuesday night/Wednesday morning (15th Sivan), GPU agents stormed into his home demanding Rabbi Schneerson identify himself while armed guards took positions throughout the house.
The Rebbe responded calmly yet firmly, refusing intimidation or falsehoods about legal procedures during their search. His daughters displayed similar courage when questioned about their loyalties (“we belong to our father’s party…we detest new aspirations”), even when threatened with prison by Nachmasen—the lead agent—who boasted about breaking prisoners’ spirits through force.
The search lasted over an hour before they presented him with papers stating everything had been done legally—which he refused to sign since he believed it was based on libel or mistake—and insisted that if arrested he be allowed tefillin, prayer books, food from family members, etc., which Nachmasen grudgingly permitted while warning him about GPU power.
9. Spiritual Lessons from Parshas Balak & Lavan’s Argument
This week’s parsha—Balak—raises an important paradox: although we serve Hashem through physical means (candles for mitzvos, intellectual study), we must remember that even our most mundane actions are infused with holiness when done l’Shem Shamayim—for Heaven’s sake.
Lavan argued with Yaakov that all physical accomplishments (“your wives…your children…they’re mine”) ultimately belong not to holiness but to klippah—the opposite side of sanctity—since they involve worldly matters like work or intellect seemingly disconnected from Hashem during those moments.
Bilaam—a descendant of Lavan—later corrected this view by blessing Bnei Yisroel: “Mereish tzurim arenu umigvaos ashurenna"—from atop rocks/hills I see them—which refers spiritually to our connection with Avraham/Yitzchak/Yaakov even when engaged physically or intellectually; our core remains anchored above through emunah—faith—and dedication to Hashem's will.
This ensures that everything we do—even ordinary work—is fundamentally different when performed by a Jew who remembers its higher purpose: transforming all aspects of life into service of Hashem (L’Shem Shamayim). That anchor keeps us aligned with true Torah values rather than being swept away by external influences.
10. Conclusion & Looking Ahead
The class concluded before there was time for further study in Tehillim but emphasized how these themes—from personal reflection on birthdays through historical narratives like Yud Beis Tammuz—all point toward using every moment for growth in Torah, mitzvos, chessed, and connection with Hashem despite challenges both internal and external.