“On one’s birthday, the Rebbe believed that each person should be secluded for a certain part of the day, do a cheshbon ha-nefesh [soul-searching] and engage in introspection. The custom also is to take on a resolution for the coming year, to do something that you didn’t do in the past year, something a little bit additional in your observance or in your studies, your Yiddishkeit.” (Characteristic examples are taking upon oneself an extra study session, or giving more charity, but, in truth, of course, it could be any act involving ethical and/or spiritual self-improvement, and kindness to
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