A Journey through the Tanya - Rabbi Yossi Lipskier: Recent Episodes
Yossi Lipskier
The Tanya is the fundamental work of Chabad Chassidic thought. Its author is Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, known as the Alter Rebbe. In 1796, he printed this comprehensive guidebook, a program for living an inspired Jewish life.
Two and a half centuries later, the world has changed. Radically. Yet Rabbi Shneur Zalman’s methods, disciplines and insights remain true, refreshing and relevant as ever.
These classes are given at Chabad of Sherman Oaks, CA. The series began in December of 2020 and is ongoing, covering a new chapter every Wednesday night.
We asked the men for short thoughts from the Tanya that meant something to them. Together, we created a recap of the whole Tanya.
If you can’t give prayer the time it needs, at least don’t stop others from doing it right.
If you’ve got greatness, don’t celebrate pettiness: a new look at one of King David’s mistakes.
Personalized Judaism vs. G-dly Judaism: Why prayer is greater than Mitzvos, and why Mitzvos are greater than prayer.
Studying with the wrong agenda vs. studying with no agenda, and why it’s impossible to pray robotically.
Do you wait to be pushed to give, or do you come forward and give on your own? Masculine Tzedakah vs. Feminine Tzedakah
What does one Tzaddik tell another Tzaddik to comfort him on the loss of his young son, also a Tzaddik?
Learn Torah by yourself - Hashem rewards you. Learn Torah with ten Jews - Hashem joins you.
Before you run to the Rebbe to solve your issues, look inward first. Maybe there’s a reason for your pain.
G-d is here: The Alter Rebbe’s radical essay on the secret of creation and the power of Mitzvos.
You did a Mitzvah. You also infused it with meaning and life. You get a reward for each. But not the way you might think.
Sometimes we need to wake up our love again. Rekindle the fire of inspiration. Especially towards Israel.
Natural Tzedaka - natural peace. Supernatural Tzedaka - supernatural peace. You choose.
If it’s good, it’s You. If it’s not good, it’s also You. And if it’s You, then it’s good. A conversation on human suffering.NOTE: during the class, the conversation became very lively, with many participants expressing their thoughts on this difficult and fundamental topic, as well as on questions related to the Holocaust etc. For the sake of continuity, much of this wonderful discussion was edited out of the recording, and it is for this reason that at some points the recording jumps somewhat abruptly.
Celebrate the finite. Celebrate the infinite. Why you should go overboard with Tzedaka.
If morality is G-dly, only He gets to dictate the terms of those morals. A provocative case for Tzedaka.
You can count the seeds in an apple, but there’s no way to count the apples in a seed. A metaphor for Tzedaka.
You can serve G-d with your truth. But if you give Tzedaka, G-d will gift you with the real truth.
It’s a good thing G-d didn’t ask you: a Jewish approach to suffering. Plus, what we learned from the goat’s milk and straw mattress
Hashem gave us the gift of relationship with Him. Then he gave us another gift. The ability to correct the relationship when it goes awry. Thank G-d for Teshuva
Revisiting your trauma to align with your inner center. That’s what higher Teshuva looks like.
Sometimes what we need is a bird’s eye view. Ever considered what your soul has been through in its time on earth?
One of the things that makes Judaism so compelling, is that each Mitzvah has so many layers of significance. In this class, we begin discussing the mystical meaning of Teshuva.
What’s the Chassidic position on fasting for atonement? Smash the play button to find out.
You messed up. You apologized. But the violation lingers. Is there a way to restore things as if the mistake never happened?
Teshuva is not crying or apologizing for the past. It’s a commitment for the future. That’s it.
For a Jew, an intellectual exercise is only as valuable as its practical application. In this class, we reflect on five takeaways from the second book of the Tanya.
When a lie is exposed, it vanishes. When a truth is exposed, it’s elevated. This explains a lot of things.
More than G-d is, G-d is not. Let’s explore what we know and what we don’t know about our Creator.
The truth is everything is G-d. The fact is we don’t feel that way. Is there a meeting point? A tale of two unities.
Bringing it all together. If you want to know whether G-d is in your life, first find out how much you’re sacrificing for Him.
The micro and the macro. The soul/body relationship gives us insight into the G-d/cosmos relationship.
When even the Alter Rebbe says he can’t communicate it properly in writing, you know we’re onto something big.
Creation is not so much about what G-d actually made, than it is about what He hid to be able to make it.
Your body is holding your soul underwater. Give it the breath of fresh air it so desperately wants.
As water reflects a face, so does the heart of man reflect to another. Let’s talk about reciprocal love.
Why is there no such thing as a center? For the same reason that beauty is created only through fusion. And for the same reason that compassion works when nothing else does.
I want you because you’re my life. I want you because you’re my father. Have you ever said that to anyone?
Birds need wings to fly. Your Mitzvos need wings to soar. What happens if the wings are broken?
There are four types of Jews. The Sincere Jew, the Emotional Jew, the Intellectual Jew and the G-dly Jew. Which one are you?
We’re two thirds in now. There’s no turning back. Let’s recap what we’ve learned about our inner potential, inspiring motivation, and why we struggle.
Have you ever wondered whether you’ve made an impact on the world? The Alter Rebbe wants you to know that the answer is a resounding yes!
Some of life’s biggest questions can be answered with a simple paradigm shift. Instead of making it about what you want, make it about what G-d wants.
When all else fails, study Torah and give Tzedaka. Ok, you’re right. Do that even if nothing else fails.
Love your fellow as yourself. We say it every day. Believe it or not, we can actually do it.
Is Judaism an Oy or a Joy? The truth is, it’s both. But you get to choose what to focus on.
When you’re stuck and you don’t know why, your dreams might be a clue. And a few other things too. Listen and you’ll understand.
The cure to Jewish Schizophrenia. It’s more about embracing your split personality than resolving it.
Is there ever an end to struggle? The answer may not be easy to swallow. But the truth always sets us free.
Real estate agents say: Location. Location. Location. The Beinoni says: Motivation. Motivation. Motivation.
Every positive deed declares G-d’s unity. Every negative deed denies it. Instead of waiting to die as a Jew, why not live like one?
There’s nothing worse you can do to a relationship than violate it. Right? Wrong. Sadly, you can violate it again. And again. And again.
The Momentary Effect. The Lingering Effect. The Eternal Effect. These are some of the incredible properties of Mitzvos.
Tzimtzum. That’s the code word for the mechanism that allows us to perceive ourselves as independent from the CCF (Cosmic Creative Force).
Let me say something controversial: G-d is one. As in, the only one. As in, you don’t exist.
There’s a flame inside you. You can ignore it. You can fight it. The thing is, you can never put it out.
Judaism is a paradox. On the one hand, we’re climbing the mountain. On the other hand, we were born at the top.
We’re roughly a third of the way through. So we pause to review. What is a Jew? And what is his existential battle?
Is Judaism relevant? If you’ve been following us till now, you should already know the answer. But just in case you don’t, take a listen.
Study. Think. Feel. Do. That’s how it should be. Oh wait, it’s not? Don’t worry, we’ve got something for you too.
Nobody likes boring people. Not even the Alter Rebbe. If there’s no tension in your life, create it!
Believe it or not, you can be a Beinoni. If not for a lifetime, at least for a moment. Here’s how.
Is there such a thing as relative truth? The Alter Rebbe thinks yes. Plus: answering some questions posed in Chapter 1.
Finally. Meet the hero of the Tanya - the Beinoni. Looks just like the rest of us on the inside, but has full self-control on the outside. What’s his secret?
Imagine being inspired. Perpetually. Imagine being in love. Perpetually. Imagine being G-dly. Perpetually.
Life is an awesome battlefield. Two voices are constantly vying for your attention. Each demands unconditional surrender from the other. Who wins?
Recovery from Soul Abuse comes in many forms, commensurate with the damage done. Also, find out why eating non-Kosher can be worse than most other sins.
If we’re honest, we acknowledge that at any moment we’re doing one of two things: serving G-d, or serving Self. Plus: is there redemption for unholy acts?
Contrast creates clarity. Everything we know about the G-dly soul is mirrored perfectly in the Animal soul.
Thinking about thinking can be frustrating. In this chapter, we analyze the way our minds absorb information, and why Torah study is different than any other academic pursuit.
Souls express themselves in three ways: thought, speech and action. Let’s talk about that. Plus: a fresh perspective on the value of each and every Mitzvah we do in this world.
A soul is an essence. But it also has a psyche, a makeup and a character. These are the capacities of intellect and emotion. Listen and discover how they work and what makes them unique.
Your soul is a piece of G-d. What does that mean? And if it’s true, why are there different types of Jews? Aren’t we all a continuum of the Singular Infinite Being?
Questions are the keys which open our minds and hearts to a new perspective. In this chapter, the Alter Rebbe redefines some classic Talmudic terms, radically changing the way we think of people: it’s not what you do, it’s who you are.