tanya – Study Torah Online: Live and Interactive Torah Learning with Rabbi Eliyahu Shear

Lessons in Tanya #73 – Chapter 34 Part 2 / Chap 35 Part 2 [Oil To Keep the Flame Alight]

We do a summary from our previous lesson in Tanya #72. We begin with Chapter 35. Though there is a slight shift in our journey through this wonderful work, it is really just a continuation from our previous themes.

Lessons in Tanya #72 – Chapter 34 Part 2 / Chap 35 Part 1 [Happiness Can Coexist With Sadness]

We conclude Chapter 34 and begin Chapter 35 in today’s lesson in Tanya. Our theme has discussed the elements of being happy and ultimately not falling into the trap of dullness of heart and being able to get oneself excited about serving God.

Lessons in Tanya #71 – Chapter 34 Part 1 [God Dwells in The Four Cubits of Halachah]

Chapter 34 of Tanya continues the theme of happiness that we discussed in Chapter 33. However, it deals with it from a slightly different angle.

Lessons in Tanya #70 – Chapter 33 Part 3 [The Tzaddik Lives With His Faith]

We conclude Chapter 33 in our lessons in Tanya. We are discussing the theme of the importance of happiness in our lives and how to go about achieving happiness.

Lessons in Tanya #69 – Chapter 33 Part 2 [A Dwelling Place for God in the Lower Worlds]

Having finished Chapter 32 – a chapter dedicated to loving another as one loves oneself, the Alter Rebbe takes us back to the theme he had begun in Chapter 31 – namely the theme of becoming happy and getting oneself out of a state of depression.

Lessons in Tanya #68 – Chapter 32 Part 2 [Chapter Love: Love Peace and Pursue Peace]

We conclude Chapter 32 – the chapter of Leiv (Love). The Alter Rebbe leads us through everything we need to know to internalise the beauty of the Mitzvah of loving another as we love ourselves – a central theme to all of the Torah. In fact, Hillel teaches us, the entire Torah is based upon this Mitzvah – with everything being a commentary on it.

Lessons in Tanya #67 – Chapter 31 Part 4 / Chapter 32 Part 1 [Love Your Fellow As You Love Yourself]

In our lesson in Tanya today we conclude Chapter 31. The Alter Rebbe “departs” from this chapter giving us hope and encouragement on our journey in life. We should not be concerned about the animal side to ourselves that brings us down. Instead we need to focus on the fact that ultimately God has put the Godly soul into a physical body in order to uplift all of creation. We should focus on this and through serving God with our bodies as much as we do with our souls, we will bring ourselves to a state of immense joy. Indeed this is what we need to do.

Lessons in Tanya #66 – Chapter 31 Part 3 [A Descent For the Purpose of an Ascent]

In our lesson in Tanya today we (almost) complete Chapter 31 dealing with the theme of Timtum HaLeiv (dullness of the heart) and the importance of not allowing these feelings to interfere with actually becoming happy! Our duty and obligation is to free the Shechinah (the Godly soul) from its exile within our bodies — and let it shine out to ourselves and to others!

Lessons in Tanya #65 – Chapter 31 Part 2 [Taking the Godly Soul Out of Exile]

In our lesson in Tanya we continue Chapter 31 – dealing with the issue of a possible depression resulting from seeing oneself in a lower light than others. Sure – we have to be humble before others, but doesn’t that bring us to a situation of becoming depressed? Too much “working on oneself” in this way may well make it easier to fall into depression.

Lessons in Tanya #64 – Chapter 30 Part 4 Chapter 31 Part 1 [The Axe That Chops The Forest]

We conclude Chapter 30 in our Lessons In Tanya series. The Alter Rebbe brings us to his main point, having dealt with the issue of Timtum HaLeiv (a dullness of the heart) in the previous couple of chapters.