Faith
According to the Gemara in Tractate Shabbat, What Does My Birthday Mean?
Question
To the esteemed website Hidbaroot and its esteemed management...!!! According to the Gemara in Tractate Shabbat, there is an interpretation of the days on which we were born and their significance. I would greatly appreciate it if you could answer me about mine; I was born on a Wednesday... and I would be very grateful if you could elaborate on this topic... Thank you very much, Tzadok Nakash...
Answer
At the end of Tractate Shabbat:
It is written in the Apinksai of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, 'Anyone born on Shabbat [one born on Sunday] will be a complete person, there will be no deficiency in them in one attribute compared to another]. What does 'will be a complete person' mean? If you say that they will not be lacking in good traits? But Rav Ashi asked, 'Was I born on Shabbat? Rather, it means they will not be lacking in bad traits. And Rav Ashi said, 'I, and Dimi bar Kakuzta were born on Shabbat; I am a king, and he was the head of thieves.' [Whoever is born on Sunday will be a leader, as it was the first day of creation, and thus, we derive that righteous and wicked people are born on that day?] Rather, all is for good or all is for bad, what is the reason? Because light and darkness were created that day.
Anyone born on a Tuesday will be a quarrelsome person. What is the reason? Because they will be distinguished among others.
Anyone born on a Wednesday will be wealthy, but also licentious. What is the reason? Because 'grasses' were created that day [as it is written, 'Let the earth sprout grass' (Genesis 1), which is a matter that flourishes greatly; some hence say, it is because 'as to its kind' was not stated in the command regarding grasses, and also because they grow in a mixed manner and nourish one another].
Anyone born on a Thursday will be a wise and insightful person; what is the reason? Because there were 'lights' created that day [as it is written, 'For the Torah is light'].
Anyone born on a Friday will be one who does acts of kindness. What is the reason? Because fish and birds were created that day [which do not labor for food, but are fed by the kindness of Hashem].
Anyone born on the eve of Shabbat will be a person who pursues mitzvot. Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak said, 'Those born on Friday evening pursue mitzvot.'
Anyone born on Shabbat will be very special and will die on Shabbat due to being exceedingly revered on that day. Rav told the students who read the notebook of Rabbi Yehoshua, 'Go tell Ben Levi, no sign is caused by the day, but rather by the hour [as there are seven constellations serving the hours, Chanchal Shatzam].
Anyone born in the sun will be a person of zest [as the sun shines] - they will eat and drink of their own, and will drink of their own [one who does not encroach on another's borders at night], and their secrets will be revealed [they have permission to disclose their secrets, and it is public to all] - if they steal, it will be futile.
Anyone born under the planet Venus will be a wealthy person, but also licentious, what is the reason? Because there exists fire in that planet [a fire associated with that desire burning like an oven].
Anyone born under the planet Mercury will be a wise and clever person, what is the reason? Because they are the ones who write down the movements of the sun and its seasons, and always have that knowledge.
Anyone born under the moon will be a person of varying moods [the moon diminishes and waxes], a builder and destroyer, destroyer and builder [this moon grows and wanes], they will eat of those not theirs, and drink of those not theirs [the moon which encroaches upon the sun, to have power even during the day], and if they steal - it will be favorable.
Anyone born on a Saturday will be a person who constantly thinks idly [similar to not resting (Genesis 8)]. And there are those who say, whoever thinks about them will become idle.
Anyone born under the sign of Tzedek [Jupiter] will be a righteous person, Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak said, a righteous person in mitzvot [righteousness to the poor].
Anyone born under the sign of Mars will be a violent person [the oppressor of blood]. Rav Ashi said, if a surgeon [who draws blood], if a thief [a murderer], [if a butcher], what a person can be.
It has been taught that Rabbi Chanina said, the sign brings wisdom [as per the sign associated with the sun's light is wise], the sign brings wealth, and there is a sign for Israel [for prayer and charity can change the sign].
Rabbi Yochanan said, there is no sign for Israel [as through prayer and merit the sign can change for the better], and Rabbi Yochanan adhered to his reasoning, as he said, 'How do we know that there is no sign for Israel? As it says (Jeremiah 10), "Thus says Hashem, Do not learn from the ways of the nations, and do not be dismayed by the signs of the heavens; for the nations are dismayed by them." The nations are dismayed, but not Israel.
And Rav also believed, there is no sign for Israel, as it is stated in the name of Rav Yehuda, in the name of Rav, How do we know that there is no sign for Israel? As it is said (Genesis 15), "And He brought him outside"; Abraham said before the Holy One, blessed be He, "(there) my household will inherit me." He said to him, 'No, but that which will emerge from you.' Abraham then said before Him, "Master of the Universe, I have looked at my astrological chart, and I see that I am not worthy of having a son." He said to him, 'Go outside of your chart [the interpretation means that there is no sign for Israel] - for there is no sign for Israel.' What you have thought is that you have the ability [the integrity is within you], storytelling of your righteousness, that because something designated for you is in the west [in a cold, unworthy place], you are to be honored and placed in the east [where it is a warm place]. This is as it is written (Isaiah 41), "Who raised righteousness from the east". [Hashem invites him to bring him for his sake]. And also Samuel stated, there is no sign for Israel.
A teaching that is enjoyable and enlightening - Menashe Israel
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