Every day of the week has a unique theme, based on the Six Days of Creation. Which one is your day?
Why Does it Matter?
On which day of the week were you born?
You may want to keep this information private until you hear the rest of the story.
This week, we once again begin reading the Torah from Bereishit. But it seems boring and useless to once to again read the ordinary things that G-d created each of Creation’s six days. Why does it matter about what G-d created on the second or third day of Creation? It’s not relevant at all. It has no practical application. Did the Torah come to regale us with tales?
However, it turns out to be very relevant after all. So first, let’s refresh our memories on what G-d created each day.
On Day One, G-d created light and darkness. On the second, He separated the waters and created the sky; on the third day, all vegetation; on the fourth, He suspended the luminaries in the cosmos, and so on.
What is Your Day?
Along comes the Talmud and says something interesting: everything that happened when the world was first created, meaning whatever was created on that day, be it Sunday, Monday or whatever, continues to influence everyone born on that day. Even 5769 years later, whatever happened on that weekday of Creation effects what happens on that day until the end of time.
Specifically, in Tractate Shabbos (page 156a), the Sage Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi is quoted with some very interesting observations:
One who is born on Sunday will be a leader. He may be a good leader or a bad leader, a community rabbi or the head of the mafia—but he’ll have a clear tendency to lead. Why? Because Sunday was the day it all began—and Sunday leads the week’s remaining days.
Someone born on Monday will be a hothead. Monday gives us a temperamental person—a person easily angered and more susceptible to provocation, a person who tends to get into arguments and fights. Why? Because
Monday’s when G-d divided and separated the upper and lower waters. Until then, Earth had been covered in water, and on the second day, G-d split the waters, placing half of them in the Atlantic, meaning the oceans, and the other half in the heavens, as the Midrash comments: “Why does the Torah not use the phrase ‘And Gd saw that it was good’ regarding the second day? Because divisiveness was created on the second day.”
Maybe that’s why everyone dreads Mondays.
The Talmud continues: one who is born on Tuesday will be fortunate and wealthy. Tuesday people tend to be prosperous. Why? Because vegetation, which grows widely, quickly and with little work—as well as weeds, which grow with no work—was created on the third day. In like manner, a person born on Tuesday will easily make money—what takes one person a year will take him a week. For him, at least, money grows on trees.
One who is born on Wednesday will be wise. He or she will get good grades, graduate college with high honors, and be bright-faced. Why? Because “the luminaries were suspended” on Wednesday—G-d put the sun and moon in their places to bring light to the world on Wednesday, a day that emphasizes light. The Torah is called “light,” while uneducated people are said to be “in the dark.” One who is educated lights up the way for everyone—he’s enlightened!
One who is born on Thursday will be compassionate. If you’re born on a Thursday, chances are you’re a good-hearted, charitable person who’s always happy to help another;, a person with a big heart. Why? Because G-d created the fish and the birds on Day Five—which was also the first time G-d actually blessed something that He created: G-d showed the fish and birds kindness by specifically blessing them with prolific breeding since they are constantly harvested. Additionally, He blessed them with finding food easily. In like manner, a Thursday-born person will be like G-d on that day: kind and giving.
What about a Friday baby? The Talmud says that one who is born on a Friday will always be in a rush! “Thank G-d it’s Friday!” is a common saying—but still, Friday is a crammed day—a day when we rush to get everything done before Shabbos.
Even G-d finished his work at the literal last minute of Friday. A person born on this day, therefore, will always be finishing things at the last minute, showing up panting everywhere, getting on the plane last, rushing and always getting there at the last possible minute. We all know someone like that, don’t we?
Finally, we have Shabbos—Saturday, the seventh day of the week. The Talmud considers Shabbos babies austere and spiritual. Why? Because the Torah tells us that “G-d blessed the Shabbos day and sanctified it.” G-d introduced a unique holiness into this day, to the extent that it influences anyone born on this day.
Make Every Day “Your Day”
Now, let’s look at the big picture.
Chasidic philosophy explains the universe is regenerated every week. That’s why each day of the week has the unique theme it had at Creation—and why each of those days are best for success in things related to their themes.
That’s also why we should emphasize each day’s theme on each of the week’s seven days. For example, on Shabbos we should go to shul and do spiritual exercises like pray—because Shabbos is a day conducive to spirituality.
In like manner, a person should get into the regular habit of extra acts of charity and kindness on Thursday, because Thursday is particularly appropriate for compassion. Wednesday is a Torah-study day, which is why many Torah classes are on Tuesday nights (which is Wednesday by Jewish law). On Tuesdays, you might let yourself be a bit more aggressive in business or investments, because Tuesdays are days more fitting for financial success.
And on Monday, scrupulously avoid angering your wife. Even if she isn’t a Monday baby, you’re likely to get it in the teeth. You’ve been warned.