From: Martin Appel

Dear Rabbi,

What is the Jewish perspective on birthday celebrations? The Torah refers explicitly to only one such celebration, that of Pharaoh. Do we have a tradition for birthday celebrations, and if so, what is it?

Dear Martin,

The Talmud Yerushalmi (Rosh Hashana 3:8) relates that when the Amalekites attacked the Jewish people, they chose soldiers whose birthday fell out on the day of the battle. They perceived that a person’s birthday is a lucky day for him, and therefore he will be successful in battle.

Rabbi Yosef Chaim of Baghdad writes in Ben Ish Chai (Parshat Re’eh 17) that some people celebrate their birthday because the day is a good sign for that person. He personally celebrated birthdays in his home.

The author of the Tiferet Yisrael commentary on the Mishna, Rabbi Yisrael Lifshitz, instructed his children that when one of them has a birthday the others should visit and bless him (Iggeret Tiferet Yisrael 6, Sefer Mayim HaHalacha).

Similarly, distinguished members of Jerusalem’s Jewish community used to visit Rabbi Shemuel Salant on his birthday and offer him their blessings.

Others emphasize the more serious side of birthdays. Rabbi Avraham Binyamin Sofer (author of the responsa Ktav Sofer) used to seclude himself on his birthday and ‘soul-search’ (Sefer Chut HaMeshulash).

The day a person is born is the day he receives the most precious gift of all – Life! Therefore, it is a day for introspection, a day for asking, “Am I using this gift to its utmost potential?”