Happy Birthday Chaim!

[Binyamin Yisrael]

Happy Birthday Chaim and may you have 57 more! 

You mean 63 more.

57 + 63 = 120.

[Dr. Dan]

Happy bday

[JewJitsu]

Question: Is it halachically permissible to celebrate birthdays?

In Judaism, the perspective on birthday celebrations is disputed by various rabbis.[18] In the Hebrew Bible, the one single mention of a celebration being held in commemoration of someone's day of birth is for the Egyptian Pharaoh which is recorded in Genesis 40:20.[19] Rabbi Moshe Feinstein always acknowledged birthdays.[20] The Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraged people to celebrate their birthdays, by gathering friends, making positive resolutions, and through various religious observances.[21] According to Rabbi Yissocher Frand, the anniversary of a person's birth is a special day for that person's prayers to be accepted.[22]

The bar mitzvah of 13-year-old Jewish boys, or bat mitzvah for 12-year-old Jewish girls, is perhaps the only Jewish celebration undertaken in what is often perceived to be in coalition with a birthday. Despite modern celebrations where the secular "birthday" element often overshadows the essence of it as a religious rite, the essence of a bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah celebration is entirely religious in origin (i.e. the attainment of religious maturity according to Jewish law), however, and not secular. With or without the birthday celebration, the child nevertheless becomes a bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah, and the celebration may be on that day or any date after it.

[ChabadKahanist]

Question: Is it halachically permissible to celebrate birthdays?

In Judaism, the perspective on birthday celebrations is disputed by various rabbis.[18] In the Hebrew Bible, the one single mention of a celebration being held in commemoration of someone's day of birth is for the Egyptian Pharaoh which is recorded in Genesis 40:20.[19] Rabbi Moshe Feinstein always acknowledged birthdays.[20] The Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraged people to celebrate their birthdays, by gathering friends, making positive resolutions, and through various religious observances.[21] According to Rabbi Yissocher Frand, the anniversary of a person's birth is a special day for that person's prayers to be accepted.[22]

The bar mitzvah of 13-year-old Jewish boys, or bat mitzvah for 12-year-old Jewish girls, is perhaps the only Jewish celebration undertaken in what is often perceived to be in coalition with a birthday. Despite modern celebrations where the secular "birthday" element often overshadows the essence of it as a religious rite, the essence of a bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah celebration is entirely religious in origin (i.e. the attainment of religious maturity according to Jewish law), however, and not secular. With or without the birthday celebration, the child nevertheless becomes a bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah, and the celebration may be on that day or any date after it.

I think you answered your own question.

[muman613]

I pointed this out in another thread. Birthdays are not celebrated for any of our Gedolim, and our memories of them usually result from remembering their death date (yartzeit). As Tag pointed out in that thread, Moshe was born and died on the same day (learned from the Gemara)...

I follow as Chabad teaches, that a birthday can be celebrated among friends and family but it is not a big affair.

[muman613]

From the 'Chabad.org' site  @ http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/481087/jewish/How-Do-Jews-Celebrate-Birthdays.htm

Questions:

Is there a Jewish way for me to celebrate my birthday?

Answer:

Sure, there's a Jewish way for everything!

Here are some ideas (culled from the teachings of the Rebbe):

Note: All these suggestions should be implemented on your Jewish birthday. Use our Jewish/Civil Date Converter to find out when your Jewish birthday is.

Giving charity should be a daily event. On your special day increase the amount of your contribution, especially before the day's morning and afternoon prayers. If your birthday falls on Shabbat or a Jewish holiday when handling money is forbidden, give the added charity beforehand and afterwards.

Spend some extra time praying, focusing on meditating and concentrating on the words of the prayers.

Say as many Psalms as possible. Ideally you should complete at least one of its five books (Psalms is divided into five books).

Study the Psalm which corresponds to your new year. This is your age plus one -- e.g. Psalm 25 if this is your 24th birthday. Click here to study it online. This is also the Psalm which you should try to say daily until your next birthday.

Take some time out to contemplate on your past year. Consider which areas require improvement, and resolve to do so.

Learn some extra Torah on this day.

Study a Chassidic idea and repeat it at a gathering in honor of your birthday. Follow the following links for Short Insights, or some Essays.

Partake of a new fruit which you did not yet taste during this season and recite the Shehecheyanu blessing.

Take the time to teach another something about Torah and Judaism.

Commit yourself to doing a particular good deed. Choose something practical and doable! Click here for some ideas.

Men and boys over the age of thirteen: On the Shabbat beforehand, get an aliyah in the synagogue. If the birthday falls on a day when the Torah is read, be sure to receive an aliyah on that day too.

Click here for more information on birthdays.

Have a happy and meaningful birthday!

[Baltimore]

Happy Birthday!

[Binyamin Yisrael]

I pointed this out in another thread. Birthdays are not celebrated for any of our Gedolim, and our memories of them usually result from remembering their death date (yartzeit). As Tag pointed out in that thread, Moshe was born and died on the same day (learned from the Gemara)...

I follow as Chabad teaches, that a birthday can be celebrated among friends and family but it is not a big affair.

Chabad celebrates The Rebbe's birthday. His birthday, 11 Nissan, is my grandmother's Yahrzeit. She died 3 days before Chaim was released from prison on Erev Pesach in 1991.

Congress even recognized The Rebbe's birthday as a day for promoting The Noahide Laws.