Sefer HaMinhagim: Miscellaneous Topics

"As to the forthcoming birthday[743] which you write of, on that day you will no doubt observe the recently-established customs of Anash: to be called to the Torah on the birthday itself (if it is a day on which the Torah is read), or otherwise on the preceding Shabbos; to give charity before Shacharis and Minchah on the birthday, or, if it falls on Shabbos or Yom-Tov, on the preceding day; to study an extra session of nigleh and of Chassidus, in addition to one's regular, daily shiurim and the three shiurim of Chitas[744] which apply equally to everyone, as instituted by my revered father-in-law, the [Previous] Rebbe - in Chumash, Tehillim and Tanya."[745]

"On one's birthday one should spend some time in seclusion, bringing to mind recollections from the past and pondering over them. As to those [of his bygone actions] that call for rectification or repentance, one should repent and rectify them."[746]

Notes:

(Back to text) "On this day one's mazal is dominant and assists him (see Talmud Yerushalmi, Rosh HaShanah 3:8). On the joy and distinctive status of the birthday of a tzaddik, see: Midrash Tanchuma, end of Parshas Pekudei (concerning Yitzchak); Megillah 13b (concerning Moshe); and Shmos Rabbah 15:9 (in the parable of a prince). See also Rosh HaShanah 11a (concerning 'the month in which the Patriarchs were born').
"This should be stressed likewise concerning every individual Jew, for since one should be as joyful on the day of the bar-mitzvah [of one's son] as he is on the day of his [son's] wedding (Zohar Chadash, Bereishis 15:4), and since (according to the writings of the AriZal) the same downward flow of Divine light is elicited afresh on the same day every year, it follows that a person should be spiritually aroused on his birthday every year." (Note of the Rebbe Shlita in Sefer HaMaamarim 5702, p. 143.)

(Back to text) [See p. 38ff. above, on The Chitas Study Cycles.]

(Back to text) From Bitaon Chabad, Booklet 10, p. 16.

(Back to text) HaYom Yom, entry for 11th Nissan, [which is the birthday of the Rebbe Shlita,] p. 44. [Elsewhere the Rebbe Shlita writes: "Picture in your mind a yechidus that you once had; recall what you asked the Rebbe and what he answered, and then study his teachings."]
[Other letters of the Rebbe Shlita mention additional practices to be observed. For example:

Investing increased time and effort in one's recitation of the prayers, and meditating on the greatness of the Creator. Likewise, reading chapters of Tehillim with devout concentration, including (if possible) at least the whole of one the five sefarim that comprize the Book of Tehillim.

Studying the psalm which corresponds to one's new age, and which will now be recited daily throughout the coming year, (e.g., Tehillim 21 for someone turning 20). (Igrois Koidesh of the Rebbe Shlita, Vol. III, p. 451.) This is done in addition to the practice described by the Previous Rebbe, of studying part of one's current psalm every Rosh Chodesh: "If the psalm is long, one studies two or more verses each month, and if there are fewer than 12 verses ... then some of them should be repeated, so that the entire psalm is studied in the course of the year."

Studying a maamar of Chassidus by heart ("from whatever text your heart desires - but conscientiously," as the Rebbe Shlita writes in a letter). This maamar is then to be recited from memory in the presence of a group of people on the birthday, or on a suitable related occasion, preferably at the Seudah Shelishis of the following Shabbos.

Reaching out to one's fellow Jews, teaching them Torah in general and Chassidus in particular, in a spirit of true ahavas Yisrael.

Undertaking a new act of piety that is within one's grasp, or a more scrupulous observance in some particular area, beginning (as the Rebbe Shlita recommends in a letter) with an additional regular session for the study of Chassidus. As the Rebbe Shlita once pointed out in a sichah: Just as it is proper to undertake a new practice of this kind on Rosh HaShanah, so is it appropriate to undertake such a practice on one's personal Rosh HaShanah - his birthday, when his individual new year begins.

Celebrating with family and friends, giving praise and thanks to the Creator, and (if possible) expressing one's joy in the fulfillment of a mitzvah by reciting the blessing of Shehecheyanu over one of the season's new fruits.]