Only few realize that core of Chabad is far more than an outreach organization - it is a philosophy with tremendous wisdom for life. Tanya 101
Rabbi Levi Brackman
As a dynamic and somewhat controversial force in the Jewish world Chabad has pioneered many of the modern day Jewish outreach techniques used by Jewish organizations across the field.
Today even conservative rabbis, such as my friend Rabbi Pete Stein, have turned to the outreach methods used by Chabad for decades. Chabad has had colossal success in reaching out to unaffiliated Jews all around the world and has arguably helped to stem the tide of assimilation more than any other Jewish organization on the planet.
Previous Article
Universal face of Kabbalah / Rabbi Levi Brackman
Having grown disappointed from the limits of what materialism can offer by way of contentment and fulfillment we turn to spirituality and Kabbalah fills this void in a wonderful way
Full Story
But few realize that the core of Chabad is far more than an outreach organization - it is a philosophy with tremendous wisdom for life.
The magnum opus of Chabad Chasidism is the Tanya. Written by the founder of the Chabad school of Chasidism Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, known as the "Alter Rebbe" (1745-1812), the Tanya is a work of Jewish ethics that is predicated on Kabbalistic principles.
The Tanya’s approach to the human condition is both unique and practical. The author coins his approach to attaining human perfection as, “a long and short way.” In many areas of life one can choose to take a short way that is really long or a long way that is really short.
For instance, one can take painkillers for migraines, but since the root cause of the migraine has not been dealt with, the headaches will return – thus taking the painkiller is the short-longer way to dealing with the problem. Conversely one can deal with the psychosomatic cause of the headaches and get rid of the pain for good – which would be the longer but ultimately shorter and more successful way.
The Tanya takes a holistic approach to the human condition and its thesis is based on a simple but revolutionary Kabbalistic truth: the mind naturally controls the emotions and impulses. So by mastering our mind we can avoid negative desires and actions and take back control of our lives.
This is easier said then done. Thoughts continually run through our mind, some inappropriate or even harmful. By only entertain positive thoughts we ensure that only positive emotions and impulses are engendered and therefore end up living a better and happier life.
Sefer shel Bainonim
Tanya is also known as the Sefer shel Bainonim, which translates as the book for the Intermediary person. The Intermediary person is one who has achieved high levels of spiritual development and mind mastery. According to the Tanya a person trying to reach that level must engender a desire for closeness to the divine by contemplating deeply on G-d’s infinitude. This motivates them to achieve mind mastery and only entertain thoughts that are compatible with holiness and the divine will as manifested in the Torah.
Much of the study of Jewish mysticism is used as food for contemplation about the divine so that the intellect can create an excitement about spirituality and divine connectivity.
Once one attains the level of an Intermediary person, every thing else falls into place – thoughts are controlled to the extent that only those that are conducive to achieving a higher purpose are entertained and negative habits and attributes are thus easily overcome. Although this method is arduous at first, once spiritual enlightenment is attained one automatically become a more refined individual – hence the term “long-shorter way.”
Autopilot misery
Although the Tanya is a guide to reaching a high level of spiritual development its technique is universally applicable. So many people lead their lives on autopilot. For most people their failures are due to following their impulses rather than allowing themselves to think things through fully. Because of this they do not internalize the outcomes of their actions.
If we were to contemplate deeply on our priorities and on the way we lead our lives we would almost certainly make significant changes. The lesson of the Tanya is to make the abstract become a reality in our lives so that it influences everything we do. This lesson is as applicable to the mystic as it is to the average layperson.
Chabad is an acronym for Chachmah (wisdom), Binah (understanding) and Da’at (knowledge), which are the intellectual components of the ten Kabbalistic Sefirot. This really sums up Chabad: A philosophy that advocates the use of the intellect to keep our lives balanced.
Rabbi Levi Brackman is executive director of Judaism in the Foothills and the author of numerous articles on a whole range of topics and issues, many of which can be found on his website .
Rabbi Levi Brackman
As a dynamic and somewhat controversial force in the Jewish world Chabad has pioneered many of the modern day Jewish outreach techniques used by Jewish organizations across the field.
Today even conservative rabbis, such as my friend Rabbi Pete Stein, have turned to the outreach methods used by Chabad for decades. Chabad has had colossal success in reaching out to unaffiliated Jews all around the world and has arguably helped to stem the tide of assimilation more than any other Jewish organization on the planet.
Previous Article
Universal face of Kabbalah / Rabbi Levi Brackman
Having grown disappointed from the limits of what materialism can offer by way of contentment and fulfillment we turn to spirituality and Kabbalah fills this void in a wonderful way
Full Story
But few realize that the core of Chabad is far more than an outreach organization - it is a philosophy with tremendous wisdom for life.
The magnum opus of Chabad Chasidism is the Tanya. Written by the founder of the Chabad school of Chasidism Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, known as the "Alter Rebbe" (1745-1812), the Tanya is a work of Jewish ethics that is predicated on Kabbalistic principles.
The Tanya’s approach to the human condition is both unique and practical. The author coins his approach to attaining human perfection as, “a long and short way.” In many areas of life one can choose to take a short way that is really long or a long way that is really short.
For instance, one can take painkillers for migraines, but since the root cause of the migraine has not been dealt with, the headaches will return – thus taking the painkiller is the short-longer way to dealing with the problem. Conversely one can deal with the psychosomatic cause of the headaches and get rid of the pain for good – which would be the longer but ultimately shorter and more successful way.
The Tanya takes a holistic approach to the human condition and its thesis is based on a simple but revolutionary Kabbalistic truth: the mind naturally controls the emotions and impulses. So by mastering our mind we can avoid negative desires and actions and take back control of our lives.
This is easier said then done. Thoughts continually run through our mind, some inappropriate or even harmful. By only entertain positive thoughts we ensure that only positive emotions and impulses are engendered and therefore end up living a better and happier life.
Sefer shel Bainonim
Tanya is also known as the Sefer shel Bainonim, which translates as the book for the Intermediary person. The Intermediary person is one who has achieved high levels of spiritual development and mind mastery. According to the Tanya a person trying to reach that level must engender a desire for closeness to the divine by contemplating deeply on G-d’s infinitude. This motivates them to achieve mind mastery and only entertain thoughts that are compatible with holiness and the divine will as manifested in the Torah.
Much of the study of Jewish mysticism is used as food for contemplation about the divine so that the intellect can create an excitement about spirituality and divine connectivity.
Once one attains the level of an Intermediary person, every thing else falls into place – thoughts are controlled to the extent that only those that are conducive to achieving a higher purpose are entertained and negative habits and attributes are thus easily overcome. Although this method is arduous at first, once spiritual enlightenment is attained one automatically become a more refined individual – hence the term “long-shorter way.”
Autopilot misery
Although the Tanya is a guide to reaching a high level of spiritual development its technique is universally applicable. So many people lead their lives on autopilot. For most people their failures are due to following their impulses rather than allowing themselves to think things through fully. Because of this they do not internalize the outcomes of their actions.
If we were to contemplate deeply on our priorities and on the way we lead our lives we would almost certainly make significant changes. The lesson of the Tanya is to make the abstract become a reality in our lives so that it influences everything we do. This lesson is as applicable to the mystic as it is to the average layperson.
Chabad is an acronym for Chachmah (wisdom), Binah (understanding) and Da’at (knowledge), which are the intellectual components of the ten Kabbalistic Sefirot. This really sums up Chabad: A philosophy that advocates the use of the intellect to keep our lives balanced.
Rabbi Levi Brackman is executive director of Judaism in the Foothills and the author of numerous articles on a whole range of topics and issues, many of which can be found on his website .
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