The Hebrew date for my birthday is the 23rd of Kislev. I was born on a Friday December 13 during the night (I hold back the year not out of vanity but so that you may try to calculate it), which means I was born on Shabbat, and the Torah reading was Parashat Vayeishev.
The interesting thing is that at the end of this Parashah, we find the only reference not only in the Torah but also in the entire Tanach (Hebrew Bible) to the celebration of a birthday: “On the third day — his birthday (Yom Huledet Et Paro)— Pharaoh made a banquet for officials…” (Gen. 40:20)
The context has to do with the fulfillment of Joseph’s interpretation of the dreams of Egyptian courtiers locked in prison. That day, the chief cupbearer regained his position, while the chief baker died at the gallows.
To stay on the topic of birthdays, the fact that Pharaoh had a special celebration on that day was a common practice in ancient Egypt (the celebration of the birthday of Pharaoh Ptolemy V is mentioned on the Rosetta Stone) as well as in other peoples. The Mishnah includes the birthday of the kings (“Genosa” in Greek) among the festivities celebrated by the idolizers (Avodah Sarah 1:3, according to the interpretation of the Jerusalem Talmud, Id. 1:2).
Possibly the pagan frame for the celebration of a birthday is one of the reasons why Jewish tradition never paid much attention to this event. We could add to this the well-known phrase by Kohelet, “A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth” (Ec. 7:1), and also the Talmudic affirmation that says, “It is better for man not to have been created” (Eruvin 13b).
On the other hand, Job in a moving testimony (Chapter 3) curses the day of his birth and the prophet Jeremiah in anguish does the same (Jr. 20:14-18).
However, we can perceive a significant change in the way birthdays were seen. The late Mishnah “Sechel Tov” (Italy, XII Century) comments on the aforementioned verse from our Parashah, “Most people appreciate the day that commemorate their birth, are glad of it and celebrate on that day.”
In more recent years, we find renowned legal authorities recognizing the importance of birthdays and establishing different traditions for its celebration. For example, Rabbi Haim Palaggi (Turkey, XIX Century) wrote that on your birthday, you should give additional Tzedakah.
Today, the celebration of birthdays is almost universal, and different customs have grown, so that whoever reaches one more year of life has the opportunity of expressing it in a Jewish way. An Aliyah (being called up to the Torah) and receiving the corresponding Misheberach (blessing) for the occasion is a good way to share the celebration with the community. It is good to recite the Shecheyanu as well, a blessing where we thank God for giving us life and allowing us to reach this moment.
A birthday is also an appropriate time to reflect on the meaning of our lives; in the same way Rosh Hashanah (which is the birthday of the world) allows us the opportunity to do a Heshvon Hanefesh (a balance of the soul) to correct mistakes and undertake new commitments for the future.
Of course there are many more initiative, extremely interesting and creative ones. In my case, on the eve of my birthday, besides celebrating with family and friends, I already have the perfect plan: “Tzedakah, Torah, Shecheyanu and Heshvon Hanefesh.”
Just like the sage Hillel (Shabat 31ª) said, “The rest is commentary.”
Shabbat Shalom
Gustavo
Happy Birthday, Rabbi! Wishing you a wonderful year of good health and much happiness!
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