Birthdays

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Birth and Death

TALMUD

The rabbis of the Jerusalem Talmud make a distinction between public and private observances in the context of birth and death. In Tractate Avodah Zarah, they discuss this issue and the laws concerning idolatry.

“Birthday, and the day of death.” The preceding was for the public, from here on private. But it is written: You shall die in peace, and what was burned for your earlier forefathers … So is the Mishnah: “Any death where there is smoke and burning is idolatrous; if there is not smoke and burning it is not idolatrous.

Jerusalem Talmud Avodah Zarah 1:2:10

The Role of Others in Birth

COMMENTARY

The word for 'birth' in Genesis is in a causative passive form, emphasizing the role of others in the process. Rashi explains this in his commentary for Genesis.

יום הלדת את פרעה HIS (PHARAOH’S) BIRTHDAY. It is called (Avodah Zarah 10a) “The birthday festival”. The causative passive form (הלדת) is used because the infant is born only by the assistance of others, for the midwife delivers the woman. On this account a midwife is called מילדת a Piel form “one who brings to birth”. This passive form occurs similarly (Ezekiel 16:4) “And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born (הולדת אתך)”. A similar passive form is used in (Leviticus 13:55) “after the plague (הכבס) is washed away”, because the washing is done by others).

Rashi on Genesis 40:20:1

Pharaoh's Birthday Banquet

TANAKH

The celebration of Pharaoh's birthday in the Torah is one of the earliest recorded instances of a birthday celebration, highlighting its significance with a public banquet and the singling out of specific individuals. The book of Genesis, the first book of the Torah, recounts this event, providing a glimpse into ancient custom.

On the third day—his birthday—Pharaoh made a banquet for all his officials, and he singled out his chief cupbearer and his chief baker from among his officials.

Genesis 40:20

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