Editing Yom Huledes (section)

== Sources ==
There are many traditional sources that discuss the practical meaning of different birthdays. The halachos (Jewish laws) depend purely on the birthday itself, not on mental maturity or other conditions. For example, a boy becomes bar mitzvah and obligated in mitzvos at 13, a girl becomes bas mitzvah at 12, and so forth.

The Yerushalmi tells us that when Amalek fought other nations, he would position soldiers whose birthday fell on that battle day at the front lines. This strategy helped him defeat his enemies because a person's mazel (spiritual fortune) is especially powerful on their birthday - as we say, "their mazel rules and assists them."

The Gemara teaches us that Hashem completes the years of tzaddikim (righteous people) from day to day, meaning they merit to pass away on their birthday, like Moshe Rabbeinu and Dovid HaMelech who were both born and passed away on their respective birth dates.

The Mishkan wasn't erected until Rosh Chodesh Nissan, even though it was ready in Adar, so it would coincide with Yitzchak's birthday. Similarly, the First Beis HaMikdash wasn't dedicated until Tishrei, when both Avraham and Yaakov were born. And Haman's evil decree was nullified in the merit of Moshe's birthday - both his birth and passing were on the seventh of Adar.

The Alter Rebbe teaches that Adam HaRishon's neshama (soul) is renewed every Rosh Hashanah, as this was the day of his creation. A person has no fear of anything on their birthday, and it represents an especially potent and healthy mazel.