Weekly Letter: The Traditional Blessing For A Birthday
In the week when we learn of the blessings that Yaakov gives his children before his passing, we share a letter of the Rebbe in which he explains the general and deeper meaning of the traditional blessing that we give to a person on his birthday.
By the Grace of G-d
Rosh Chodesh Shevat, 5733
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mr.
Milano, Italy
Greeting and Blessing:
Pursuant to our conversation when you were here and told me about the good news of your 60th birthday, I want to reiterate here in writing the blessing that I wished you also orally, namely that G-d should bless you with אריכת ימים ושנות טובות (arichat yomim v’shonim tovot).
I would like to add that his time-honored traditional blessing is a very meaningful one, although at first glance it may seem redundant to mention also the days (“long and happy days and years”), since the “days” are already included in the “years.” The explanation is that this blessing is a double one, namely, to enjoy long and good years and also that each and every day should be long and good in terms of content. That is to say that each day should be completely filled with true Jewish content. Time is a relative thing and the true measure of time, whether it is “short” or “long”, is in terms of content and achievement. It is a matter of common experience that it is possible in a short while to have much good content that it would normally fill days, weeks or even months.
And from the particular to the general. What is true of the individual in terms of personal achievement is true in a wider sense in application to the community. I have in mind such activity that stimulates a chain reaction, an activity that sets an example for others to emulate. In such a case, the person setting off this chain reaction has a share and zechus in all the good effects of which he has been the cause. A person like yourself, who has an influential and active role in the community, is thus in a very privileged and blessed position. Particularly when such activity includes, first and foremost, the area of chinuch. Here the chain reaction is even more in evidence, since the present pupils, who are now recipients, will eventually be benefactors, with pupils of their own and so forth.
Apropos of the above, I wish to mention also the custom introduced by the Baal Shem Tov and transmitted to us through the Alter Rebbe. According to this custom, a special Psalm is recited daily corresponding to the person’s age in a particular year. Thus, for a person entering the 61st year, Psalm 61 is the one recited daily that year. In this connection, of special relevance is the verse (61:8) (insert Hebrew: yeshev olam lifnei Elokim, chesed v’emet man yintzeru’hu).
The Midrash (Shmos Rabba31:5) makes the following commentary on this verse: King David was wondering why there should be rich men and poor men in the world. Would it not be better if all were equal before G-d? Where upon G-d replied: “Kindness and truth – who will practice it? In other words, the poor and needy of the world are there so that there should be someone practicing the mitzvah of tzedokoh and loving kindness. This provides an additional insight into the Jewish concept of tzedokoh in all its forms, including especially tzedokoh for zechus horabim.
With prayerful wishes for “long and happy days and years” in all your affairs, both personal and genral.
With blessing,
