Chapter 31 – Part 1

Video is also available – click to open In ch. 29 the Alter Rebbe began to deal with the problem of timtum halev, insensitivity of the heart. He quoted the statement of the Zohar that a body impervious to the light of the soul needs to be crushed. By crushing one’s spirit, one crushes the […]

Chapter 31 – Part 2

Video is also available – click to open ואחר כך יבא לידי שמחה אמיתית, דהיינו, שזאת ישיב אל לבו לנחמו בכפליים אחר הדברים והאמת האלה הנ״ל He will then arrive at a true joy, as follows: In order to comfort his heart in double measure, let him — in the wake of the above words […]

Chapter 32 – Part 1

Video is also available – click to open In the previous chapter the Alter Rebbe taught that when one is bitterly remorseful over his sorry spiritual state, he must strive for joy by considering the following. True, on account of his body and his animal soul he is utterly remote from G‑dliness. Yet he has […]

Chapter 32 – Part 2

Video is also available – click to open Up to now the Alter Rebbe has discussed the mitzvah of loving one’s fellow, on its own merits. He now proceeds to discuss the value of this mitzvah as the basis for all the commandments, thereby elucidating yet further the importance of “rejoicing with the joy of […]

Chapter 32 – Part 3

Video is also available – click to open In honor of the 5,462 edition of the Tanya printed at the Chabad House of the Upper East Side, at the Schneerson Center for Jewish Life.

Chapter 32 – Part 4

Video is also available – click to open The Alter Rebbe proceeds to clarify: ומה שכתוב בגמרא שמי שרואה בחבירו שחטא, מצוה לשנאותו, וגם לומר לרבו שישנאהו As for the Talmudic statement 8 that if one sees his friend sinning, he should hate him, and should also relate the fact to his teacher so that […]

Chapter 33 – Part 1

Video is also available – click to open In ch. 31, the Alter Rebbe discussed various means of arousing joy to counteract the sadness brought on by contemplation of one’s spiritual failings. Ch. 33 resumes this discussion. עוד זאת תהיה שמחת הנפש האמיתית, ובפרט כשרואה בנפשו בעתים מזומנים שצריך לזככה ולהאירה בשמחת לבב Yet another […]

Chapter 33 – Part 2

Video is also available – click to open The Alter Rebbe here introduces an analogy which traces the early evolution of an idea or a desire from the moment that it first occurs in one’s mind and heart. At that stage the idea or desire is formless, not yet having the shape or form of […]

Chapter 33 – Part 3

Video is also available – click to open וזהו שאמרו רז״ל: תרי״ג מצות ניתנו לישראל, בא חבקוק והעמידן על אחת, שנאמר: וצדיק באמונתו יחיה This is [the meaning of] what our Rabbis, of blessed memory, said:6 “Six hundred and thirteen mitzvot were given to Israel;… came Habakkuk and based them all on a single one […]

Chapter 33 – Part 4

Video is also available – click to open ובפרט בחוץ לארץ, שאויר ארץ העמים טמא, ומלא קליפות וסטרא אחרא This is especially so in the diaspora, where the atmosphere is unclean and is filled with kelipot and sitra achra. ואין שמחה לפניו יתברך כאורה ושמחה ביתרון האור הבא מן החשך דייקא There is no greater […]