How lovely
it is to be here today and actually putting into practice the celebration of
all our members’ birthdays that take place in the month of September. The idea of gathering as a synagogue
community to celebrate the lives of each individual who will grow older this
month seems very natural. That is
because birth itself is a very creative act, one that mirrors G-dlike
actions. If you’ve ever had the
opportunity to give birth, you know how it creates within you a deep sense of
love and wonder for the new life you have brought forth into the world. Keeping that new life safe and well-cared for
becomes a goal that supersedes all else.
Rabbi
Menachem Mendel Schneerson spoke about birthdays quite poignantly. He said, “Birth is your beginning. It is a
window to the chance of a lifetime, the chance to fulfill your unique
mission. So a birthday is a momentous
occasion, to be commemorated just as a nation commemorates its birth or just as
a nation celebrates its founding. Still,
it is much more than an occasion to receive gifts. It is a chance to remember the day that a
major event occurred, to celebrate and give thanks and to reflect upon how well
we are fulfilling our calling.”
When you’re
nine, you might wonder what your calling is.
But as a child, your calling involves learning how to become a mensch, a
person of integrity and honor. You learn
how to interact in a caring way with others, how to be respectful of all life,
how to show your inner goodness each time you act.
When you’re
ninety-seven, you’ve learned how to be a mensch, but your purpose in life is
not over. You’ve realized the legacy you
gained from your family and have thought about the legacy you would like to
pass on to your family. Hopefully you
realize that your character, values, and commitments speak worlds about the
person you are. At this stage in your
life, you serve a unique role in your family as well as in this community. By maintaining a vibrant outlook on life as
something for which you are grateful speaks volumes to others.
We are
preparing to enter the New Year in a little more than a week from today. There is a prayer written by Rabbi Alvin Fine
which comes to mind at this time of year.
It reminds us that birth is a beginning ….and life is a journey….from
childhood to maturity…from youth to age….life is a journey ….a sacred
pilgrimage.
To all those
celebrating another year of life this month, we wish you a meaningful, sweet,
and joyful journey. We are so glad that
you are part of our lives. Yom Huledet Sameach collectively from Tifereth
Israel!
Shabbat
Shalom.
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