Introduction. History and explanation.

The Possuk on which the Tanya is based :Ki karov ailecha…biFicha uvilVovecha laAsoso. How is practical Yiddishkeit considered “near”? a context.

Chapter one. Tzadik ,Beinoni, Rasha. Their meaning in Gemara vs. in Zohar. There are Talmudic sources for the mystical interpretation!

Chapter one (end). The Alter Rebbe introduces us to the two souls and forces in the world. G-Dly (ideal) and animal (subjective, selfish).

Chapter 2,3,4. The soul’s structure: Essence (Wants what’s beyond, altruistic), Kochos (attributes), Garments (tools for expression).

Chapters 4,5. Why a jew (who is G-Dliness) needs Judaism for his (revealed) connection to his Creator.

Chapter 6. Animal Soul, It’s Essence (NATURE that can’t be changed), Kochos (attributes), Garments (tools of expression).

Chapters 7,8. Klipas noga vs. severe Klipos. Where intent makes a difference and where it does not. Gehinom, Chibut hakever, Kaf Hakela.

Interplay between the two souls: Man vs. Animal; Order vs. Infinity; Yosher vs. Igul; Gadlus vs. Katnus.

Chapter 9. WAR between G-Dly and Animal Souls. Each wants total victory. Mind vs. Heart.

Chapter 10. TZADIK. Imperfect and perfect Tzadik. Imperfect Tzadik has personal (inner) struggle, Perfect Tzadik does not. Note: The next six lessons discuss Tzadik, Rasha and the (mind over heart) Beinoni.

Chapter 11. RASHA. Incomplete Rasha has an awareness and conscience about Yiddishkeit; The perfect Rasha does not.

Chapter 12, 13. BEINONI. Mind rules the heart has fluctuations: sometimes inspired; sometimes barely surviving. The life of the poor man, Constantly struggling, but he stays alive. Never sins , but it’s almost never easy. Except during Davening, when even the Beinoni is inspired.

Chapters 13, 14. Answers to questions in beginning of Tanya. “Tehi Tzadik” means to try at the work of the Tzadik (whose life is defined by inspiration) but at least be a Beinoni.

Chapter 15. First category of Beinoni: “Lo Avado”. A Beinoni who is either naturally good (dispassionate, studious, not materialistic) or who has developed habits that allow him to be a Beinoni without struggle.

Chapter 15, 16, 17. second category of Beinoni: Avado through “Moach Shalit Al HaLev”, Mind (either) educating (or) dominating the heart. 1. Highest kind of Beinoni “Avoda Tamma”- full passions towards Hashem; 2. Kach Ya’asa, where the passions are not so manifest, but are enough to fight the Yetzer Hara.

Chapter 15 (end), 18, 19, 25. Third category of Beinoni: Working with “Ahava Misuteres”; hidden love for G-D hidden in the soul of every Yid. Harnessing that power (of self sacrifice) for one’s regular service of Hashem. Note: Lessons 17-23 explain the (Ahava Misuteres) Soul based (rather then the mind over heart) Beinoni.

Chapter 17. 1) The Possuk Ki Karov…bFicha (to learn and meditate) uviVovecha (be impassioned) LaAsoso (Thought Speech and Deed). 2) One can’t be a Beinoni unless he does Teshuva first; however Teshuva Tataa will suffice.

Chapter 20-21 (half). ACHDUS HASHEM: introduction, 1) Faith 2) Knowledge of what G-D is 3) Understanding His unity [With the world (us)]. Various levels of unity; 1) Rambam, 2) Kabbala, 3) Chassidus- Highest unity- nothing actually exists outside of Him.

Chapter 21 (second half)-22. From our point of view the worlds exist. End of Hishtalshelus- Klipa. What are they why do they exist.

Chapter 23 (half). Mitzvos “Merkava”. They carry G-Dliness. [Chapter 25. Mitzvos 3 ideas: 1) The moment 2) What lasts, 3) What is timeless].

Chapter 23 (second half). Torah- light of Ein Sof. Panim of G-Dliness, One whose vocation (umnaso) is Torah; Higher fear associated with Torah.

Chapter 24. Sins Merkava to Klipa; Avoda Zara.

Chapter 26. JOY! 2 levels: 1) Of the Tzadik or Beinoni; 2) Of the Baal Teshuva. Note: The next 11 class (24-34) gets at the Heart of Tanya! The issue of joy and the struggle to achieve it, Fighting sadness with sadness and the pursuit of the Soul: Clarity, Joy, Love and Faith.

Chapter 26. (cont.) When one is saddened by material challenge. How to be joyous in spite of the difficulties.

Chapter 26 (cont.) When one is saddened by their spiritual deficiencies (failures). There is a time for Teshuvah (and the associated sadness), otherwise one must be joyous. [G-D forgives you forgive yourself!]

Chapter 27. When one is saddened by the awareness that their spiritual struggle will never end or let up. We must know our place. The value of ISKAFIA.

Chapter 28. Sadness from confusion of Yetzer hara and Davening. What to make of the fact that right in the middle of our communication with G-D we can get so distracted. (doesn’t that mean we’re hypocrites).

Chapter 29-31. The mussar section of the Tanya. When all methods of inspiring joy fail, the only solution (sometimes) is to be even more critical of self.

Chapter 29-31. Specific examples of mussar (self criticism). Former sins, small sins, relative sins, when comparing yourself to your fellow.

Chapter 31. Joy after sadness. One has as much reason to be joyous as sad. Choose “joy of the soul” rather than “the sadness of the body”. What’s there to be happy about?

Chapter 32. (One of the symptoms of the Soul) Ahavas Yisroel to literally love your fellow as yourself. Why Ahavas Yisroel is so central to the chassidic idea of the (practical) use of the Soul. Can you love someone while hating their evil?

Chapter 33 (part). (Another symptom of the Soul) Emuna (faith) that’s been brought forward to one’s consciousness is equal to hosting G-D in your mind. Revealed faith reduces of all of Judaism to the faith itself.

Chapter 33-34. Hisbonenus, using the mind as a key (not only to the heart but) to the Soul! A method of connecting to one’s own inner G-D within the limitations given to them by their creator.

Chapter 35. Why did G-D create the world (For us to raise ourselves above it or) For Him to be brought to the lowest (most unG-dly) place “Dira biTachtonim. Bringing G-D to the lowest level gives physical Mitzvos an advantage over Torah study.

Chapter 35-6. Why does a Jew need Judaism? The answer: for the sake of BITTUL which is the way he can reach the Shechina to rest upon us.

Chapter 37 (-38). Dira biTachtonim affects our belongings. Collectively this process affects and elevates all of Klipas Noga (and causes the demise of the 3 evil Klipos) and brings Moshiach.

Chapter 37. When one isn’t obligated to do Mitzvos he should study Torah. Torah is greater than mitzvos in several very important respects.

NOTE: For technical reasons the first few minutes of this class are lost. We apologize. Chapter 38. Though the “action is the main thing” There must nevertheless be KAVANA as well so that the body (of Yiddishkeit) is LIVING. Note: Lessons 39-44 address chapters 38-40. They elaborate on the need for passion to raise up...

NOTE: For technical reasons the first several minutes of this class were lost. We apologize. Chapter 38-39. This is the first of two classes. The Rabbi divided the level of “KAVANA” into 4 levels (only three appear explicitly in the Tanya; the fourth is alluded to at the end of chapter 40 in a note)....

Chapter 38-40. This is the second part of the discussion on the four levels of Kavana. 3. Kavana rooted in creating original (outside of one’s nature) passions from one’s MIND. 4. “MERKAVA”, Kavana that reflects an intimate sense of G-Dliness (as the baseline of one’s connection to G-D).

Chapters 38-40. Though there are four categories of servant of G-D each in their own “world”, still all of us have (potentially) all four levels and can sometimes exceed our own level.

Chapter 40. The KAVANA (passion) we invest in our yiddishkeit are the wings (love and fear) to help our Mitzvos ascend to the Sfiros of the spiritual world to which our (particular) soul and our service of Him belongs.

Chapter 39-40. Faults in one’s Kavana, Lack of motivation, selfish motivation, negative motivation.

Chapter 41 (half). Yirah, Kabalas Ol. The foundation of Judaism is discipline- Do what you are told. Out of fear of our King, or (at least) out of shame from our neighbor. Note: Lessons 45-51 (chapters 41-45) Fear, love and beauty in the service of Hashem.

Chapter 41 (second half). highest level of service to G-D is that of Yichudim (unifications)- The idea that what we do here has a reciprocal effect on high; and results in bringing G-Dliness down. Though this is the realm of the (highest level of) Tzadik it has some connection to all of us. We must...

Chapter 42. Yirah, service of G-D that is fear (respect; serious; sincerity) based. The core of all fear is Bittul, Meditation brings it out; The notion of personalizing G-D- DAAS.

Chapter 42. The various Hisbonenus (meditations) that lead to the emotion of Yira (fear).

Chapter 43. Higher love and fear- altruism. Putting G-D before oneself. G-D is truth and therefore I give Him all of me.

Chapter 44. (Though love and fear of G-D are usually very personal and individual, there are) Two universal love and fears (equal in all people). 1. He’s my life, 2. He’s my Father (essence). The idea of knowing Him intellectually.

Chapter 45. A relationship with G-D based on the third primary emotion: TIFERES (beauty, compassion). Having mercy on one’s soul; Real unity with Him.

Chapter 46, 48-9. Love for G-d out of gratitude. He has favored us not because of our own worthiness (at all). The less deserving we are the more we should feel indebted to Him. Note: Lessons 42-6 (chapters 46-50) deal with love a gratitude, Kamayim HaPanim LiPanim. Ch. 50 addresses Love from strength.

Chapter 46-7. The incredibly timeless message of our exodus. Yetzias Mitzrayim lays at the heart of Jewish people’s most important prayers because the exodus is current! The upcoming holiday of Pesach is the proper time to explore chapter 47.

Chapter 48-9. Mystical discussion. The meaning of the first Tzimtzum (Siluk- complete departure); and the later Tzimtzumim (Mi’ut- the light isn’t removed, only diminished). G-D (in an allegorical sense) squeezes Himself so there could be a world (us, our egos etc).

Chapter 48-9. Avoda (practical) lesson from the mystical concept of Tzimtzum. Squeeze yourself in your commitment to Hashem. Birchos Krias Shma- their meaning.

Chapter 50. Love that exceeds all one’s natural limits: Love of fire that goes beyond (love of) water. Avoda of Leviim. 2. Shuv must follow every Ratzui.

Chapters 51-53. Torah and Mitzvos are vehicle to reveal Schechina down here. analogy of the Soul manifesting in the body via the head and brain. Note: Lessons 57-60 (chapters 51-3) end the Beinonim section with the discussion of the Beis HaMikdash and the manifesting of the Shechina.

Chapters 51-53. Torah and Mitzvos- are the brain that allows Shechina to rest in Malchus- the Beis Hamikdash.

Chapters 52-53. Every world has (these) levels: 1. Torah and Mitzvos- Brain; 2. Shechina rests in Beis Hamikdash; 3. Radiates to the whole world 4. LUCHOS manifest directly in the physical world (NOT in the higher ones).

Commentary (to Chapter 53). When there is no Beis Hamikdash, the Shchina is spread all over the world.