Tanya the Masterpiece of Hasidic Wisdom: Selections Annotated & Explained (SkyLight Illuminations)

A little bit of Tanya is like a bit of honey. It tastes sweet and you want more, but this book is just to wet your appetite for wisdom. The real Tanya is a big volume of books that's like a library.

The Tanya is a difficult book to read without a knowledgeable guide. Rabbi Rami Shapiro has provided that in these well chosen selections. He has culled the Tanya to find passages that support most, if not all, of his theological concerns.While not as radical a reading as we find in his translation and commentary of Ecclesiastes (for instance there is talk of the different levels of the soul here, whereas in The Wisdom of Solomon, soul is ejected as nothing but a construct) still this work gives a good overview of Shapiro's ideas of God's radical immanence which borders on a kind of pantheism, his ideas of yesh (being) and ayin (nothingness) as the two combined poles of God, his belief in that we are all extensions of God, and the necessity of tzedakah and acts of chesed, kindness.This book is a valuable first reading of the Tanya, and separates it from strict Chabad interpretative control.

Provides a basic understanding of Jewish mysticism as embodied in the contemporary Hasidic movement. Intended for a general audience, it is accessible to readers from other spiritual traditions and non-practicing Jews interested in exploring the world of Jewish spirituality from an objective standpoint.

A very valuable and well-written book.

As believers we need to know how to walk with YHVH. What He expects of us and how our inner man and outer man fight against each other. But that we have His Power In Us to do what He asks us to do.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in studying the Tanya. Rabbi Shapiro explains important terminology and concepts to be able to understand them beforehand.

Truly a masterpiece.

A gem!

As well as giving a much needed explanation of ChaBaD in the very clear ointroduction, this very well written book gave me a valuable insight into the ChaBaD spiritual philosophy

Absolutely life changing, is just opens your mind. I recomand it 1000%.

simply amazing

I got this book for my boyfriend

Good Book.