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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 35

Part one of Chapter 24 This chapter explores how violating the 365 prohibitions of the Torah leads to a sense of separation from Gd. The previous chapters looked at how our actions lead to a closeness and a unification with the divine. This chapter shares the opposite, reflecting on different degrees of sin. We mess up because of our sense of self and we mess up because the animal soul influences us to the point of folly. The latter might help us understand the difference between the Beinoni and the Rasha. Finally, this lesson also contains a short message for Tu B’Shvat at the end of the recording.

Episode 35

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 34

Chapter 23. This chapter discusses the concept of the Torah and Gd are one. In this chapter, we go deeper into the centrality of Torah study as the ultimate way to be in unity with Gd. We explore how our actions allow us to be a vessel for the divine but the pursuit of engaging Gd through Torah allows us to be one, even at the level of the soul.

Episode 34

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 33

Chapter 22. We continue on the topic of Divine vs Human speech with a discussion of the Torah speaking in the language of humanity. The Torah uses our way of seeing the world to describe Gd, so on some level we see Gd’s speech as being “separate” from Gd. This leads into a discussion of how Gd can allow for the notion of denial of Gd in the universe, exploring in greater depth the ramifications of the term tzimtzum (contraction). Chapter 22 focuses on how people come to “false worship,” the notion of having “other Gods before Gd,” which is prohibited in the 10 commandments. We get into a discussion of arrogance and humility as it relates to our relationship to Gd and to how speech is the crux of the connection between the divine and human.

Episode 33

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 32

Chapter 21. We continue to explore the mechanism of speech. This chapter focuses on how we understand what it means when it says Gd spoke. What is divine speech in relation to human speech? We explore the topic of Gd’s unity as it pertains the bringing into existence of being. We also discuss the topic of Tzimtzum and Hester Panim, contraction and the veiling of Gd’s face.

Episode 32

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 31

Chapter 20 – This chapter begins our journey into understanding Gd as the unchanged, true existence. We discuss how everything else is “non-existent,” or contingent existence. This discussion leads us into the beginning of a focus on speech. The previous chapters have been focused on we refine and understand our thought and action as it pertains to the Beinoni. This chapter begins to explain how speech is the revealed form of thought, the revealed form of the divine sparks in the world.

Episode 31

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 30

Chapter 19 – We continue to explore what is the meaning of the hidden love. We discuss his metaphor of a flame on top of a candle needing to remain attached to the candle while also striving to rise up. This chapter continues to explore the topic of connecting to Gd no matter the cost and also understand that the fear of Gd we should be cultivating is a fear of being distant from Gd.

Episode 30

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 29

Chapter 18. We take a deeper dive into the notion of love and fear of Gd being “a very near thing,” so near in fact that it is embedded in our DNA. We discuss how this spark always exists, which oftens comes out at times when our backs are up against the wall. I also expound on how this concept is another sign that the Alter Rebbe’s approach is one of encouraging even those who seem so far removed that there is always an opportunity to change. We cannot despair of being stuck.

Episode 29

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Audio – Lessons in Tanya 28

Chapter 17 – This chapter further examines how a person can reveal one’s innate love and fear of Gd. We explore the duality of the heart as the seat of thought and emotion. We discuss aspects of how our actions can bring about different emotional states from what we feel before the action. This chapter also offers us a new perspective on the Rasha and how it is possible for the Rasha to overcome the animalistic soul being the driver of life. We conclude with a short piece of understanding how repentance is a return to Gd through a kabbalistic read of the Hebrew word for repentance, Teshuva.

Episode 28

Audio – Lessons in Tanya 27

Chapter 16. Today’s episode discusses the struggle of the Beinoni when they can’t feel love or fear of Gd. How do we keep ourselves motivated to fulfill our obligations when we aren’t finding the emotional connection we wish to have? In this chapter, we discuss how love and fear of Gd are innate and the mission to reveal that which is concealed through our actions, speech and thought. We also discuss how Gd, through the Torah, is the bridge of the mind and body, being the conduit to help us grow spiritually. This discussion leads to a message about not giving up the search and presuming the grass is greener on the other side because often the thing we are looking for is already here.

Episode 27

Audio – Lessons in Tanya 26

Chapter 15 – This chapter describes the difference between the beinoni who is considered as not serving Gd vs. the one who is serving Gd as the distinction between the person who does just enough vs. the person who goes above and beyond to do a little extra. The Alter Rebbe derives this from a talmudic discussion about learning something 100 vs. 101 times, for the extra one time shows a revealed sense of love for the subject as opposed to just learning to fulfill an obligation. This concept is one which has powerful spiritual growth implications as I refer to during this podcast. I also discuss how this argument opens the door to a discussion of accepting those times when you aren’t able to go above and beyond (which we will return to again in subsequent discussions).

Episode 26