A birthday is more than a day. Instead, a birthday is a day when mazalo gover, the spiritual source of his soul, shines powerfully on that day, he should focus on his individual mission and align all the particular elements of his life accordingly. As taught, on a birthday a person should spend time in solitude, thinking over the purpose of his life, correcting those matters that need to be amended, and making resolutions with regard to the future.
A birthday is not merely a personal event. On the contrary, the very name Rebbe is an acronym for the Hebrew words "Rosh Bnei Yisrael"—the head of the Jewish people. Just as the head is the nerve center for the entire body, allowing all its diverse organs and limbs to function together as a single entity, so too a Rebbe is a comprehensive soul whose life is lived in consciousness of others and whose actions are directed toward tightening the connection between the Jewish people and their source.
Where is this connection directed? In one of his talks, the Rebbe said: "From the days I began going to cheder (school) and perhaps even before then, I had a vision of the future redemption." From his earliest childhood, and in every successive phase of life, the Rebbe's focus was on creating a spiritual climate that would hasten the coming of Moshiach.
On a birthday, the source of one's soul shines powerfully. Each person should think of the way he can help shoulder and advance this mission. The sciences and communication of our era have created the conceptual foreground for the Redemption. It is our responsibility to make the values and principles that will characterize the Redemption factors that shape our lives. Anticipating the Redemption in this manner will precipitate its coming.
