The Inception of the Jewish Birthday Club
The Rebbe's Birthday Campaign was launched on 25 Adar 5748 , March 14th 1988.
The following is an excerpt from a Sicha (discourse) delivered by the Rebbe on that date.
A birthday is an introspective time to take the purpose of one’s life to heart . One refects on their
life; another year has passed, and a new year is beginning. One takes stock of the past to identify any possible shortcomings and to increase in both material and spiritual matters - in quality and in quantity - for the New Year. Particularly on one’s birthday one receives added power as his mazel (fortune) radiates with extra strength. The word ‘mazel’ stems from the Hebrew root ‘fow down’, as mazel is the conduit through which Divine vitality descends upon a person to help them accomplish their mission in the physical world.
It is the suggestion from now on, that it would be appropriate on the occasion of one’s birthday – even of an adult, and moreover for a child – to remind oneself and explain to one’s friends that when one becomes a year older, they must mature in their spiritual growth as well as their physical growth (and this spiritual growth ,also, in turn, impacts their physical growth).
Because a Jew’s physical health is nourished by their spiritual health, the soul is primary, and the body is secondary. This applies to all Jews, for all Jews are considered righteous. The refection on his past years’ accomplishments should become the basis and foundation for new growth - a continuous ascension from one level to the next without any limits, in all matters of goodness and holiness .
The statement ‘One’s fortune radiates with strength’ refers to every person on his birthday, certainly including infants . When a child reaches the age of understanding these concepts should be explained in words that they can comprehend. The main thing is that it leads to concrete action; they increase in good deeds in good conduct, giving true Nachas to their parents, to the entire Jewish people and so-to speak to G-d Himself.
As for oneself, one must take time for sincere introspection: as he has become a year older, he certainly must become a year wiser, a year more religious and connected to G-d Almighty. This is the crux of this suggestion. There are those who will object that until now this was never done, nevertheless, it is obvious that there are more negative infuences and events in the world, so we must take it upon ourselves to increase in holiness. In fact, the only reason the negative exists is to contrastingly cause an increase in holiness and goodness to much greater heights. For one’s birthday resolutions to have more impact and fulflment, he should involve his family and inform them of the resolutions so that later they can offer him feedback. We are guaranteed that one who tries to do good is assisted from on High. G-d Himself so-to-speak, helps him to fulfl his resolutions to the fullest - even more so than he originally planned, and although this resolution will be made without an offcial vow, nevertheless one should truly fulfl them as action is the main matter.
Additionally, through this, one becomes a living example for those around him. One should actualise the new resolution on the birthday itself to already begin the good resolution on that day. As mentioned , this applies equally to men and to women, and great things can especially be achieved by speaking about this with children (even the young ones). When this is explained to them, they should have a special birthday gathering - boys with boys, girls with girls - and they should be told in a personal way that he or she is chosen and special, and on the birthday of a Jew he is ‘reborn’ and thus renews his commitment to Torah study and Mitzvos which all Jewish souls accepted at the giving of the Torah.
In practicality, when a child will go to his friends with great excitement to tell them what he did for his birthday, this affects the child’s entire year, beginning with an additional Mitzvah on the birthday itself. When preparations for the next birthday begin, his siblings won’t allow the parents to rest because they too want to understand the greatness of the birthday when their fortune radiates with extra strength, and for a Jew this means that his Jewish soul is strengthened. Their soul is an actual part of G-d and they too will want their friends to share in their excitement, so they will ask their parents and urge them to make a gathering together with all their friends. Obviously, the parents themselves should participate and invest their efforts and money and, most importantly, their souls into it.
Surely, the child will excitedly ask the parents when their birthdays are, what resolutions they added, and how they became better. Then, before their birthday the children will come back and ask the parents if they actually fulflled their resolutions. Children have no doubt that the parents add in good things but the greatest proof for them is when they see how the parents add in Torah study to celebrate their birthday.
Through prayer, fulflling Mitzvos, and beginning with charity, may it be G-d's will that the discussion should become widespread - it shouldn’t merely be a custom, rather the way through which to reach and embrace every Jew with a full enthusiasm, of additional Torah study and additional observance of Mitzvos.
When this is carried out with joy, with the party gathering together and wishing each other a true L’chaim, in blessing each other with all good things they have G-d's assurance that “those who bless you will be blessed“ from G-d's full, open, holy and broad hand.