Tanya classes – Rabbi Krasnianski: The Book of the Intermediates (Likutei Amarim) ch. 11-20

as, indeed, our Sages have said,10 “Would that a man pray the whole day long!” The post Chapter 13 – Part 3 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

Even if one’s entire aspiration is in G‑d’s Torah, which he studies day and night for its own sake, The post Chapter 13 – Part 2 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

1“One is the opposite of the other”: the “rasha who knows good” is the antithesis of the “tzaddik who knows evil.” The post Chapter 11 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

So, too, in matters “between man and his fellow-man.” The Beinoni will not grant expression in thought, speech or action to any evil feelings toward his fellow. The post Chapter 12 – Part 3 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

Accordingly, we may understand the comment of our Sages1 that “Beinonim are judged by both [their good and evil inclinations]” — both “judge” him and dictate his conduct. As Scriptural support for this contention, the Talmud cites: The post Chapter 13 – Part 1 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

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ולמשל כמו בנפש האדם כשמדבר דבור אחד, שדבור זה לבדו כלא ממש אפילו לגבי כללות נפשו המדברתTo illustrate from the soul of a human being: When a man utters a word, this single word is as absolutely nothing even when compared only to his The post Chapter 20 – Part 2 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

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In the previous chapters the Alter Rebbe discussed the Torah’s assertion that “it is very near” to us to fulfill all the commandments with a love and fear of G‑d. He explained that it is indeed “very near,” by means The post Chapter 20 – Part 1 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

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וממנה נכנס בהם רוח שטות לחטוא, כמאמר רז״ל: אין אדם חוטא כו׳From the kelipah, there enters into them a “spirit of folly” which leads them to sin, as our Sages remark: 13 “A person The post Chapter 19 – Part 3 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

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וזהו כלל בכל סטרא דקדושה שאינו אלא מה שנמשך מחכמה, שנקראת קודש העליוןNow this is a general principle in the whole realm of holiness: Holiness (קדושה) is only that which derives from Chochmah, called The post Chapter 19 – Part 2 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

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In the previous chapter the Alter Rebbe began to discuss the “hidden love of G‑d” inherent in every Jew, by virtue of which it is indeed “very near” to us to fulfill all the commandments out of a spirit of love and awe of G‑d. He The post Chapter 19 – Part 1 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

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ולכן אפילו קל שבקלים ופושעי ישראל מוסרים נפשם על קדושת ה׳ על הרוב, וסובלים עינוים קשים, שלא לכפור בה׳ אחדTherefore, as a rule, even the most worthless of the worthless and the sinners among Israel sacrifice their lives for the sanctity of G‑d’s Name The post Chapter 18 – Part 3 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

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Returning to his original point, that every Jew has a soul which stems from the holy Sefirot, and that ultimately each soul is animated by the light of the Ein Sof by way of the soul’s faculty of wisdom (Chochmah), the Alter Rebbe now goes on to explain why it The post Chapter 18 – Part 2 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

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In the previous chapter the Alter Rebbe discussed the verse, 1 “For this thing is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it” (i.e., it is simple for you to fulfill the The post Chapter 18 – Part 1 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

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אם לא מי שהוא רשע באמתThis is true of everyone except he who is truly wicked — that is, not the Beinoni who is considered “like a The post Chapter 17 – Part 2 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

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ובזה יובן מה שכתובWith this explanation — that even a fear and love of G‑d which remain concealed in one’s mind and heart suffice to infuse one’s fulfillment of the commandments with vitality, thereby perfecting and The post Chapter 17 – Part 1 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

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כאלו עסק בהם בדחילו ורחימו ממש אשר בהתגלות לבוThe love and fear referred to as tevunah, although not heartfelt emotions, nevertheless serve as “wings” for one’s Torah and mitzvot in The post Chapter 16 – Part 2 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

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וזה כלל גדול בעבודת ה׳ לבינוניםThis, then, is the important principle regarding the divine service of the Beinoni:העיקר הוא למשול ולשלוט על הטבע שבחלל השמאלי The post Chapter 16 – Part 1 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

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ובזה יובן מ״ש בגמרא דעובד אלקים היינו מי ששונה פרקו מאה פעמים ואחד, ולא עבדו היינו מי ששונה פרקו מאה פעמים לבדThis explains the Talmudic statement 10 that “he who serves G‑d” refers to one who The post Chapter 15 – Part 2 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

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In the previous chapters, the Alter Rebbe discussed the difference between the tzaddik and the Beinoni. The tzaddik has no evil inclination. Since there is no longer any evil in his own soul, evil holds The post Chapter 15 – Part 1 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

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ובזה יובן כפל לשון השבועה: תהי צדיק ואל תהי רשעNow we may understand the repetitious wording in the oath administered to every Jew before birth, “Be a tzaddik and be not a rasha” The post Chapter 14 – Part 2 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

In previous chapters the Alter Rebbe explained that though the Beinoni is unsullied by sin in thought, speech or action, the internal evil of his animal soul remains strong enough to desire evil. That these desires do not find any practical expression is due The post Chapter 14 – Part 1 – audio podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

וכמאמר רז״ל: הלואי שיתפלל אדם כל היום כלוas, indeed, our Sages have said, 10 “Would that a man pray the whole day long!” Such a Beinoni is The post Chapter 13 – Part 3 – audio podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

Until now we have been speaking of a working man who does not have the opportunity to spend all his time in Torah study and divine service. Now the discussion turns to the individual who spends all his time immersed in the study of Torah. The post Chapter 13 – Part 2 – audio podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

In the previous chapter the Alter Rebbe described the spiritual profile of the Beinoni. In the Beinoni’s heart, said the Alter Rebbe, evil desires may often arise, but his divine soul constantly prevents such desires from finding The post Chapter 13 – Part 1 – audio podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

The discussion of his mastery over his animal soul has thus far centered on matters pertaining to man’s relationship with G‑d. It now moves to another area:וכן בדברים שבין אדם לחבירוSo, too, in matters “between man The post Chapter 12 – Part 3 – audio podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

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אבל אחר התפלה, בהסתלקות המוחין דגדלות אין סוף ברוך הוא, הרי הרע חוזר וניעור בחלל השמאלי, ומתאוה תאוה לתאות עולם הזה ותענוגיוBut this state of affairs lasts only for the duration of the spiritually-charged time of prayer. After The post Chapter 12 – Part 2 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

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In the previous chapters, the Alter Rebbe defined the terms tzaddik and rasha. The tzaddik, he explained, is one in whom the good qualities of his divine soul vanquish the evil qualities of his animal The post Chapter 12 – Part 1 – video podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.

Having described in ch. 9 the ongoing battle between the divine and animal souls to capture and dominate the body, the Alter Rebbe proceeds, in ch. 10, to define the term tzaddik within the context of this struggle The post Chapter 11 – audio podcast appeared first on TanyaClass.com.