Ask a Lubavitcher Anything

[Lurker]

Is celebrating the Rebbe's birthday a thing amongst all Lubavitchers? How about the birthdays of previous Rebbis?

All birthdays of previous Rebbeim are celebrated, but obviously not with the same intensity as the Rebbe which we have a personal connection to. (Probably the wrong wording, but you get the point.)

[AsherO]

Is celebrating the Rebbe's birthday a thing amongst all Lubavitchers? How about the birthdays of previous Rebbis?

Yes, and to an extent Rebbetzins too (we just had one this week). The Rebbe made a big deal about people in general celebrating their birthdays, but not in the party sense, but using it as an opportunity to do and promote growth and goodness.

ETA, e.g. this: https://collive.com/revival-of-birthday-campaign-inspired-by-rebbes-note/

[EliJelly]

The Alta Rebbe's too? What about the Magid's, Baal shem's?

[Lurker]

The Alta Rebbe's too? What about the Magid's, Baal shem's?

See "Chai Elul."

[AsherO]

The Alta Rebbe's too? What about the Magid's, Baal shem's?

The Baal Shem Tov is easy because it’s also the birthday of the Alter Rebbe, Chai Elul, and it’s a big deal in Lubavitch. The Maggid’s birthday isn’t known AFAIK, at least Lubavitch doesn’t have a mesorah.

The Maggid’s Yahrtzeit is 19 Kislev which is a big day in Lubavitch because it’s the Chag Hageulah of the Alter Rebbe.

[EliJelly]

Very interesting, because birthdays isn't a thing in other chassidic courts. I know in Lubavitch it's a big deal, I didn't know though that it's celebrated even after a Rebbe's histalkus. Can you point me to the earliest Chabad מקור about the significance of a birthday?

[AsherO]

Very interesting, because birthdays isn't a thing in other chassidic courts. I know in Lubavitch it's a big deal, I didn't know though that it's celebrated even after a Rebbe's histalkus. Can you point me to the earliest Chabad מקור about the significance of a birthday?

I’m not sure how significant they were before our Rebbe made a shturem about them. Maybe someone better versed can find you an earlier source.

ETA: This and the footnotes, though I don’t think any of the sources mentioned from previous Rebbes are explicit, more like allusions to an idea: http://chabadlibrarybooks.com/pdfpager.aspx?req=31682&st=&pgnum=148&hilite=

[gozalim]

I’m not sure how significant they were before our Rebbe made a shturem about them. Maybe someone better versed can find you an earlier source.

ETA: This and the footnotes, though I don’t think any of the sources mentioned from previous Rebbes are explicit, more like allusions to an idea: http://chabadlibrarybooks.com/pdfpager.aspx?req=31682&st=&pgnum=148&hilite=

see letters from the rebbe leading up to 12 tammuz 5710...

[Dan]

Chabad birthday minhagim and sources here:
http://www.sichos-in-english.org/books/birthday-celebrations/12.htm

[Dan]

Same as they've done with the previous Rebeim.

Pretty sure Dan's posted our Grandfathers been doing that for a while for The Previous Rebbe.

Yes, start at 1 again.

He says the Tehilim daily, while standing, for every Rebbe back to the Besht besides the Maggid, as well as the Rebbetzin.

And the Tehilim daily for the yom, for all of his kids, kids in law, grandkids, and great grandkids.

He told me that mine sometimes overlaps with the Maharash, though he does it again for everyone regardless. That means 4 times Kapital Beis for Kovi and your triplets.

[ExGingi]

Chabad birthday minhagim and sources here:
http://www.sichos-in-english.org/books/birthday-celebrations/12.htm

Back in תשמח (when this was published) we referred to this as the 10 commandments of birthdays.

[Happyguy]

What in jj1000’s post makes you think so?

He said that after 150 you start again with 1. So why not do that with all the Rebbes?

[Yo ssi]

He said that after 150 you start again with 1. So why not do that with all the Rebbes?

Who tehilim is said for is unrelated to how the cycle works.

[JoeyShmoe]

He says the Tehilim daily, while standing, for every Rebbe back to the Besht besides the Maggid, as well as the Rebbetzin.

And the Tehilim daily for the yom, for all of his kids, kids in law, grandkids, and great grandkids.

He told me that mine sometimes overlaps with the Maharash, though he does it again for everyone regardless. That means 4 times Kapital Beis for Kovi and your triplets.

די זכות זאל אייך ביישטיין!

[ushdadude]

I think his question was mainly for the 'shiurim' portion of the quoted post. I'm gonna guess you'd refer him to something in https://insidechassidus.org/tanya/
though a number of other resources come to mind as well

Any way to get an rss feed of these shiurim?

[Dan]

their support for Anash Kinder.

Lol, watching to see Rafi's name and assuming they'd forget it. Yup.
Red headed stepchild of chidon indeed. Nunu.

[jew]

I happened to be in 770 this shabbos, and bochur put on tallis in order to do hagbaha

[Dan]

I happened to be in 770 this shabbos, and bochur put on tallis in order to do hagbaha

They also have a shvil and egg throwers there.

[ExGingi]

I happened to be in 770 this shabbos, and bochur put on tallis in order to do hagbaha

Main minyan? Likely a chosson.

[AsherO]

They also have a shvil and egg throwers there.

The latter is a fair analogy because the egg throwing is as uncommon as a non-Chosson unmarried man doing Hagbaha with a Tallis