Next Thursday, I should be having the greatest night of my life. It should be the defining moment of my college years. I should be in Coventry or East 4th Street (or some other action-packed area that’s full of bars), and I should be on my fifth drink by 9 PM. I mean, next Thursday is my 21st birthday, for goodness sakes.
 
Instead, I’m going to be sitting on my couch at home. And I’m going to be very freaking hungry.

Thursday, July 30th is the anniversary of the day that was the world was graced with my presence. But unfortunately, it’s also Tisha B’av. You know, the holiday where we mourn and fast all day. The day that the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed… twice. The day that Wikipedia calls “the saddest day in Jewish history.” Yea, really uplifting, I know.
 
Note to G-d: What the heck?!?

My 21st birthday celebration was already planned when I discovered this "slight" scheduling conflict. I had a reservation at Lola’s… THE Lola’s. The place that’s owned by the Food Channel guy. I called four months in advance to get a table. To put it lightly, I was mildly excited.

But when I found out that Tisha B’av falls on my birthday this year, I had some serious thinking to do. Growing up at Camp Ramah, and spending my high school years on USY summer programs, I had always observed Tisha B’av. I actually feel pretty strongly about the holiday, because I feel that it’s important to remember the hardships that our ancestors went through. After much soul-searching and deliberation, I ultimately decided that my birthday would have to fall by the wayside.
 
It was my Rebbetzin who came up with the solution. Posting on my Facebook wall, she encouraged me to find out when my Jewish birthday is and to celebrate then instead. I did my Chabad.org research, and discovered that my Jewish birthday is the 17th of Av, which falls on August 7th this year. (Of course, my new I.D. says otherwise.)

Moral of the story: my birthday has been rescheduled. If you want to celebrate the fact that I exist, please join me for festivities on August 7th. I will be wearing a tiara, and yes, presents will be accepted. Oh… and if you can pull some strings to get me a new Lola’s reservation, please let me know.

-Abbie Fagin