Text-Based Tanya

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Rabbi Shais Taub presents this text-based class of the original Tanya going word for word in Hebrew and explaining in clear, accessible English with contemporary examples and applications.

Rabbi Shais Taub


    • Aug 19, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 52m AVG DURATION
    • 102 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Text-Based Tanya

    Gate of Unity and Faith: Chapter 12—Reflections of the Light

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2024 42:19


    The twenty-two letters are building blocks that through re-arrangements and substitutions, diminish the original power of the creative energy so that different creating beings can emerge. This diminishing effect may be likened to the sun's light reflected by the moon.

    Gate of Unity and Faith: Chapter 11—Letters that Create

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2024 36:52


    The Ten Utterances of creation are only rightly called such from the subjective perspective of the created beings.

    Gate of Unity and Faith: Chapter 10—Luminary and Light

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2024 49:18


    Using the metaphor of the sun and its rays, we come to better understand the nature of Hashem's attributes in relation to His essence. Just as the sun's rays are relatively non-existent when compared to the sun itself, so too are the Divine attributes one with Hashem's essence.

    Gate of Unity & Faith: Chapter 9—Beyond Description

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024 55:23


    The Essence of G-d cannot be described by even the loftiest attributes, so why do we speak of Hashem as "wise" or "compassionate" etc? In this chapter, the Alter Rebbe gives us context for understanding the proper usage of these terms.

    Gate of Unity & Faith: Chapter 8—Simple Oneness

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2024 50:51


    Having explained in chapters 1-7 how Hashem is the only true existence and that the worlds are not something "other" than Him, we now turn our attention to the oneness of Hashem in terms of Himself. Hashem is a simple oneness, not a composite of attributes.

    Gate of Unity & Faith: Chapter 7—Surrounds All Worlds, Fills All Worlds

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2024 43:01


    We conclude Ch. 7 with a further explanation of Tzimztum and how it is possible for Hashem to fill all worlds while simultaneously not being limited by them.

    Gate of Unity & Faith: Chapter 7—Space, Time, and Tzimtzum

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2024 51:16


    In Chapter 7, we explore the concept that despite Hashem's transcendence, He is present within space and time through His attribute of Malchus. Additionally, we examine the Alter Rebbe's interpretation of the Lurianic concept of Tzimtzum, clarifying that it does not imply Hashem literally withdrew Himself to allow for finite creation, but rather concealed His […]

    Gate of Unity & Faith: Chapter 7—No King Without a Nation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024 40:09


    We begin Chapter 7 which introduces the idea of the Higher and Lower Unities (yichuda ilaah and yichuda tataah.) The first concept discussed is that it is Hashem's attribute of Malchus (corresponding to the Divine Name of A-D-N-I) that relates to the inherent limitations of time and space.

    Gate of Unity & Faith: Chapter 6—There's No Other

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2024 53:54


    In chapter 6, we are finally able to understand the statement in the verse with which we began chapter 1. "Know today and take it upon your heart that Hashem is Elokim; there is no other." Because the Divine Names of Hashem and Elokim are really one, therefore, even the concealment that makes creation appear […]

    Gate of Unity & Faith: Chapter 5—Is Creation Real?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2024 42:16


    Chapter 5 is very short but very challenging. Based on the Rebbe's explanations, we try to unpack the basic message of the chapter which is to obviate misunderstandings regarding tzimtzum that may arise from Chapter 4.

    Gate of Unity & Faith: Chapter 4—The Power of Tzimtzum

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2024 55:44


    Chapter 4 answers the question that was asked at the end of the previous chapter. How it is that creation is not nullified out of existence before Hashem? The answer is that Hashem's restraining power allows His creative power to conceal itself in a way that created beings can retain a sense of independent selfhood.

    Gate of Unity & Faith: Chapter 3—Reality is Like a Sunbeam

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2024 53:13


    In Chapter 3, the Alter Rebbe illustrates how, based on what we have learned in chs 1-2, it is a logical conclusion that all of created reality is non-existent relative to the Divine energy that constantly brings it in to being,

    Gate of Unity & Faith: Chapter 2—Continuous Creation

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2024 49:03


    In Chapter 2 of Shaar HaYichud VeHaEmunah, the Alter Rebbe uses the mechanics of the miraculous Splitting of the Sea to give us a logical way of understanding why creation must be constant and continuous.

    Gate of Unity & Faith: Chapter 1—Letters that Create

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2024 55:36


    Chapter 1 of Shaar HaYichud VeHaEmunah introduces the idea that all of created reality is composed of arrangements of the 22 letters of the Holy Tongue and that it is the Divine Speech that issues for these letters that causes all of creation to continue to exist rather than revert into nothingness.

    Gate of Unity & Faith: Intro

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2024 61:30


    We begin the second volume of Tanya known as The Gate of Unity and Faith (Shaar HaYichud Ve'HaEmunah) which explains the oneness and unity of Hashem. In this introduction, the Alter Rebbe explains why we need to understand this subject matter as it is the foundation to developing proper love and awe of Hashem.

    Lesson 88—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2023 54:19


    The final class of this series covers Ch. 53 of Tanya.

    Lesson 87—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2023 49:39


    This lesson covers Ch. 52 in Tanya in which we further explain the concept of the "brain" of each plane of existence that was mentioned in Ch. 51.

    Lesson 86—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023 49:39


    Chapter 51 of Tanya takes us back to the discussion of the power of action that came up in Chapter 35 where mitzvos were compared to oil which fuels the flame of G-dly revelation. To better understand this, we ask a question: What does it mean that the Divine Presence rested in the Holy of […]

    Lesson 85—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2023 53:02


    Concluding the theme of love and awe of Hashem begun in Ch. 41, a new type of love is introduced here in Ch. 50 that is in a whole different category from all previously discussed forms of love.

    Lesson 84—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2023 49:10


    Finishing Ch. 49 of Tanya and the subject of "reciprocal love." In this class, we deal at length with the idea of Hashem "choosing" the Jewish people.

    Lesson 82—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2023 56:29


    Chapter 48 of Tanya discusses the concept of Tzimtzum whereby the Infinite makes room for thew finite.

    Lesson 81—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2023 38:50


    Chapter 47 of Tanya continues the theme of reciprocating love begun in Chapter 48. How to feel that the Exodus is happening right now.

    Lesson 80—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2023 42:55


    Chapter 46 describes the mechanics of reciprocal love that can be channeled to reveal a love for Hashem in our hearts.

    Lesson 79—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2023 39:22


    Chapter 45 of Tanya discusses the concept of arousing divine compassion on the plight of the soul as a method for generating love of G-d.

    Lesson 78—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2023 52:24


    In Ch. 44 we encounter two new kinds of love--loving Hashem because He is our true life and loving Hashem even more than life because He is our father. Both of these types of love are based on inherited qualities that are automatically present within us but which we must amplify through meditation.

    Lesson 77—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2023 52:31


    Chapter 43 describes two levels of awe and two levels of love as well as how each may be attained.

    Lesson 76—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2023 50:05


    Concluding chapter 42, we speak about the idea that the vastness of the creation is merely a visual cure to remind us of the infinitely greater kingship of Hashem.

    Lesson 75—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2023 57:50


    Continuing Ch. 42 and our discussion of awe of Hashem. The class gets off on a tangent but it's kind of interesting.

    Lesson 74—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2023 55:04


    Continuing Ch. 42 and our discussion of meditations that bring on awe of Hashem.

    Lesson 73—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2023 47:32


    Beginning Ch. 42 and the subject of the "internal Moshe Rabenu" that it makes it possible for us to relate to Hashem in a personal way.

    Lesson 72—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2023 53:52


    Concluding Ch. 41, we focus on the idea of serving Hashem altruistically.

    Lesson 71—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2023 50:23


    Continuing Ch. 41, we discuss the necessity for all mitzvos to be done with some level of awe of Hashem and what specific intentions qualify as this awe. Conversely, it is not enough to serve Hashem with awe alone; one must also serve with love.

    Lesson 70—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2023 47:00


    Starting Ch. 41 of Tanya and the "awe meditation."

    Lesson 69—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2023 61:50


    Chapter 40 of Tanya concludes our discussion of kavanah (intent) and its effect on our mitzvos.

    Lesson 68—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2023 48:10


    Finishing Chapter 39 and the discussion of the various levels of intent and the worlds to which they correspond.

    Lesson 67—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2023 60:46


    We begin Ch. 39 in which we continue our discussion about the different levels of kavanah (intent.) What is the difference between instinctive and intellectual emotions?

    Lesson 66—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2023 51:02


    Concluding Ch. 38, we discuss the two levels of kavanah (intent) that may accompany a mitzvah. One level is referred to as "human" while the other is called "animal."

    Lesson 65—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2023 54:29


    We begin Ch. 38 and our discussion of the importance of kavanah in performing mitzvos.

    Lesson 64—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2023 49:45


    We conclude Ch. 37 and our discussion of the importance of physical action as the means for transforming the physical world into a home for Hashem.

    Lesson 63—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2023 57:18


    Continuing Ch. 37 and the explanation of how our physical mitzvos transform the world. We come to understand that the soul did not come to this world for its own fixing but rather to fix the world. We also learn why tzedaka is the quintessential mitzvah.

    Lesson 62—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2023 53:06


    We begin Chapter 37 of Tanya in which we begin to describe the precise mechanics whereby our mitzvos transform the physical world into a dwelling place for Hashem.

    Lesson 61—Text Based Tanya

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2023 47:40


    In Ch. 36 of Tanya we continue to impress upon the beinoni why physical action is so important by explaining that the whole purpose of creation lies within the physical.

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