Celebrating Birthdays
There is a discussion in sefarim about whether it is a Jewish custom to celebrate and commemorate birthdays. Some poskim suggest that the reason we find the concept of celebrating birthdays in Torah only with regard to non-Jews is that, “Noach lo le’adam shelo nivra mishenivra,” it would be better for a person not to have been created than to have been created. Nonetheless, many gedolei Yisroel recognized the importance of commemorating a birthday, and it has become the accepted practice among Yidden to do so. The meaning of “Noach lo shelo nivra mishenivra” is that it would have been easier for a person not to have been created; however, it is certainly preferable for the person to have been created so that they can fulfill the unique purpose for which their neshamah was sent down into this world. No other neshamah that was, or will ever be born can fulfill that particular purpose. Many traditional sources attest to the fact that a birthday confers a special mazel, power, on both Jews and non-Jews. In addition, it is a day of cheshbon hanefesh, taking an accounting of one’s behavior over the past year, and resolving to do better in the future, as well as a time to give shevach v’hodayah, praise, to Hashem for having been born. All agree that the birthday of a tzadik is a special day, and should be marked as a day of celebration to thank Hashem for sending down such a special neshamah. #272?
1 ראה בהנלקט בשלחן מנחם ח״ג ע׳ רנח ואילך. ואכ״מ.