One's Jewish birthday is, of course, the date upon which one was born according to the Jewish calendar (to find out when your Jewish birthday is click here).
Far from considering it incidental, Jewish tradition regards one's Jewish birthday to be brimming with meaning and relevance and, in some ways, even a mini-Rosh Hashanah!
The Talmud informs us that on our Jewish birthdays our mazel (good fortune) is dominant.1
The Jewish birthday is the perfect day for reflection about our lives as Jews and is an auspicious time to make new resolutions to perform good deeds and to deepen our commitment to Torah and the role it plays in our lives.
On one's Jewish birthday it is customary to get together with family and friends to celebrate Jewishly. At the celebration one should say a prayer of thanks to G‑d, give money to charity, and learn some Torah.
Re: birthday candles Some trace the custom of placing candles on a birthday cake to the ancient Greek practice of celebrating the birthday of one of the pagan gods. You can read more about this here.
Hi, Rabbi Zalmanov,
Definitively, however, if I can interpret your reasoning in the best way, it is not advisable to put candles on the cake.
Thank you, sincerely and good job.
Andrea
Thank you, Rabbi Zalmanov, for your answer. We felt by e-mail: please ignore my previous request.
Thanks again!
Andrea
Many many religions past and present all over this world have used the same themes and therefore this particular idea of using light to show that we have decided to ward off evil is not pertinent only to Greeks.