Happy S H A B B I R T H D A Y

וַיְ ִהי בַּי ּוֹם ַה ׁ ְּשלִי ׁ ִשי יוֹם ֻהלֶּ ֶדת ֶאת־ ּפַ ְרע ֹה וַיַּעַשׂ ִמ ׁ ְש ֶּתה לְכָל־עֲבָ ָדיו. And on the third day, his , Pharaoh made a banquet for all his officials. - Genesis 40:20

The very first recorded mention of a birthday celebration in Western literature is right here in the , the . But birthdays have been celebrated for thousands of years in Eastern cultures, particularly evident in the Chinese tradition of “longevity noodles” — the longer the noodle you can slurp, the longer your life will be. Now that’s a ritual we can behind.

Whether you’re celebrating a birth date, birth month, star sign, or Chinese zodiac, we hope this guide helps elevate the centerpiece of your — the once-in-a-lifetime miracle that is you.

O N E T A B L E . O R G | @ O N E T A B L E S H A B B A T Light

Shabbat candles! Birthday candles!

More light means more joy.

The light you create tonight will welcome your weekend, and sparkle long into your new year.

בָּרוּךְ ַא ָּתה יְיָ ֱאל ֵֹהינוּ ֶמלֶךְ ָהעוֹלָם ֲא ׁ ֶשר ִק ְדּ ׁ ָשנוּ בְּ ִמצְוֹ ָתיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְ ַה ְדלִיק נֵר ׁ ֶשל ׁ ַשבָּת.

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat.

Blessed is the Oneness that makes us holy through commandments and commands us to kindle the light of Shabbat.

In honor of the birthday celebrant, try adding the Shehecheyanu to your candle lighting. This blessing is said upon doing something for the first time or for the first time in a long time.

בָּרוּךְ ַא ָּתה יְיָ ֱאל ֵֹהינוּ ֶמלֶךְ ָהעוֹלָם ׁ ֶש ֶהחֱיָנוּ וְ ִקיְּ ָמנוּ וְ ִהגִּיעָנוּ לִזְּ ַמן ַהזֶּה.

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’olam shehecheyanu v’kiyamanu v’higianu laz’man hazeh.

Blessed is the Oneness that inspires the universe, sustains us, raises us up, and enables us to reach this season.

O N E T A B L E . O R G @ O N E T A B L E S H A B B A T Bless

Alright birthday celebrant, this one’s on you! Share your mazal (good fortune) by blessing each of your guests with a word — fulfillment, resilience, prosperity — whatever you wish for them in the year to come, or read aloud the poetic blessing below. (Don’t worry, your guests will have a chance to return the favor later.)

From A Birthday Poem By Tamara Gilberstein Translated from the Hebrew by Hila Ratzabi

In honor of my birth And my choice to live and to be here I would like to bless us To listen to and to hear the melody beneath and in the depths of all things To go naturally, and simply, light on the face of the earth That the power of love and peace shine in us and on our way That we will be able and allow ourselves to love and be loved. May I find peace and be truly happy.

O N E T A B L E . O R G @ O N E T A B L E S H A B B A T Wine

Kiddush allows us to sanctify time, in this case another lap around the sun. We raise our glasses, bringing in your birthday Shabbat with gratitude for the year that has passed and the year to come.

From Each of Us Has A Name By Zelda Translated from the Hebrew by Marcia Lee Falk

Each of us has a name given by God and given by our parents. Each of us has a name given by our stature and our smile and given by what we wear. Each of us has a name given by the mountains and given by our walls. Each of us has a name given by the stars and given by our friends.

Share with each other the story of your name(s) — the name you were given, the names you were called, the name you inherited from your adopted family or your birth family, the name you have chosen for yourself.

בָּרוּךְ ַא ָּתה יְיָ ֱאל ֵֹהינוּ ֶמלֶךְ ָהעוֹלָם בּוֹ ֵרא ּפְ ִרי ַהגָּפֶן. בָּרוּךְ ַא ָּתה יְיָ ְמ ַק ֵדּ ׁש ַה ׁ ַשבָּת .

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’olam borei p’ri ha’gafen. Baruch Atah Adonai m’kadesh ha’Shabbat.

Blessed is the Oneness that creates the fruit of the vine. Blessed is the Oneness that sanctifies Shabbat.

O N E T A B L E . O R G @ O N E T A B L E S H A B B A T Nourish

There are also as many ways to approach ritual as there are varieties of bread — and they’re all. So. Good. Ha’motzi over birthday cake? Birthday candles in challah? Amen. Take a moment to acknowledge the gift of nourishment using the Jewish blessing below, or explore a blessing from another faith tradition.

ְ ְ בָּרוּך ַא ָּתה יְיָ ֱאל ֵֹהינוּ ֶ ֽמלֶך ָהעוֹלָם, ַה ּמוֹצִיא לֶחֶם ִמן ָה ָא ֶרץ.

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha’olam ha’motzi lechem min ha’aretz.

Blessed is the Oneness that brings forth bread from the earth.

We receive this food in gratitude to all beings Who have helped to bring it to our table, And vow to respond in turn to those in need With wisdom and compassion. – Buddhist Meal Gatha

Let us be together; let us eat together. Let us be vital together, let us be radiating truth, radiating the light of life. Never shall we denounce anyone, never entertain negativity. – The Hindu Upanishads

As we come together at this special time, let us pause a moment to appreciate, to take joy in the bounties of nature. Let us also wish for the day that all people enjoy the same good fortune that we share. – Humanist (adapted)

O N E T A B L E . O R G @ O N E T A B L E S H A B B A T Gratitude

AFTER THE MEAL

וְ ָאכַלְ ָּת וְ ָשׂבָעְ ָּת וּבֵ ַרכְ ָּת.

V’achalta v’savata u’varachta.

When you have eaten and are satisfied, bless. — Deuteronomy 8:10

It’s a remarkable thing that Jewish tradition seeks to inspire us to be present before we eat, and all the more so that we are then directed to acknowledge our gratitude after we eat, not for the food itself, but for the incredible feeling of being full.

You are also a source of gratitude. Invite each of your Shabbat dinner guests to help end the meal by sharing something about you that makes them feel grateful, then conclude together with the blessing below.

בְּ ִריךְ ָרחֲ ַמנָא ַמלְכָא ְדעַלְ ָמא ַמ ֵריה ְד ַהאי פִי ָתא.

Brich rachamana malka d’alma marei d’hai pita.

We are blessed with compassion by the Oneness that sustains us with nourishment.

O N E T A B L E . O R G @ O N E T A B L E S H A B B A T Here are some ideas to give the end of your meal just as much intention as its beginning.

HOT DATE Do you know when your Hebrew birthday is? Enter your birth month, day, and year into this date converter and find out.

BLESS UP Many people give (donations of time or funds) on their birthday, or ask others to give on their behalf. What are the causes you want celebrated?

SIGN LANGUAGE If you would like to descend down the rabbit hole that is Jewish astrology (yes, that’s a thing) this page is a good place to start.

עד מאה ועשרים May you live to be 120!

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