Ethics

For the week ending 9 February 2008 / 3 Adar I 5768

Happy Birthday!

by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach zt'l
Become a Supporter Library Library

Question: When members of my family or friends have a birthday and I sincerely wish to take note of the occasion, I find it rather prosaic to just wish them "Happy Birthday" or even worse joining in singing "For he's a jolly good fellow". What is the right thing to do?

Answer: You are certainly correct both in your appreciation of the need to offer some expression and in your distaste for the prosaic manner in which most people do so.

When someone has a birthday it inevitably raises his consciousness to the fact that he is year closer to the end of his life. It is therefore customary to wish him a long life ("until 120 years") filled with success and happiness. The prosaic "Happy Birthday" which is at best a good wish for a single day is thus replaced with an important blessing for a lifetime.

© 1995-2024 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved.

Articles may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue or school newsletters. Hardcopy or electronic. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission in advance at ohr@ohr.edu and credit for the source as Ohr Somayach Institutions www.ohr.edu

« Back to Ethics

Ohr Somayach International is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation (letter on file) EIN 13-3503155 and your donation is tax deductable.