Review
Rabbi Steinsaltz has written an inspiring and illuminating introduction to the Tanya, a fundamental work of Hasidism and one of the greatest books of moral teaching (mussar) of all time. He presents overviews of its broad philosophical and spiritual messages as well as a point-by-point commentary on the text, originally written by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812). Steinsaltz's commentary. which covers only the introduction and the first 12 basic Hasidic concepts, theoretical background, metaphors and parables from daily life, and stories from the past and present lives of the Hasidim. A glossary defines and expounds on various terms and concepts. Best known for his monumental commentary on the Babylonian Talmud, Steinsaltz is a recipient of the Israel Prize and a resident scholar at academic institutions, including Yale. No library should be without the complete Kehot Publications Society bilingual edition of the Tanya, and Steinsaltz's commentary willl help to make a significant part of the original text better understood. Also helpful is Nissan Miindel's Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi: A Bography of the First Lubavitcher Rebbe. Recommended for large public, Jewish, and religion libraries and university libraries hosting Jewish studies departments. —David B. Levy, Beth Abraham Synagogue Lib. Baltimore (Library Journal, September 1, 2003)
Review
"...Rabbi Steinsaltz has written an inspiring and illuminating introduction to the Tanya." (Library Journal, September 1, 2003)
Book Description
Written by the great Hasidic master Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi in the late eighteenth century, the Tanya is considered to be one of the most extraordinary books of moral teachings ever written. A seminal document in the study of Kabbalah, the Tanya explores and solves the dilemmas of the human soul by arriving at the root causes of its struggles. Though it is a classic Jewish spiritual text, the Tanya and its present commentary take a broad and comprehensive approach that is not specific to Judaism nor tied to a particular personality type or time or point of view. Opening the Tanya is a groundbreaking book that offers a definitive introduction, explanation, and commentary upon the Tanya. As relevant today as it was when it was first written more than two hundred years ago, the Tanya helps us to see the many thousands of complexities, doubts, and drives within us as expressions of a single basic problem, the struggle between our Godly Soul and our Animal Soul.
From the Inside Flap
Written by the great Hasidic master Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi in the late eighteenth century, the Tanya is considered to be one of the most extraordinary books of moral teachings ever written. A seminal document in the study of Kabbalah, the Tanya explores and solves the dilemmas of the human soul by arriving at the root causes of its struggles. Though it is a classic Jewish spiritual text, the Tanya and its commentary take a broad and comprehensive approach that is neither specific to Judaism nor tied to a particular personality type or time or point of view. As relevant today as it was when it was first written more than two hundred years ago, the Tanya helps us to see the many thousands of complexities, doubts, and drives within us as expressions of a single basic problem, the struggle between our Godly soul and our animal soul. Opening the Tanya is a groundbreaking book that offers a definitive introduction, explanation, and commentary upon the Tanya. The internationally celebrated Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, who has dedicated his life to the study, teaching, and writing of books that explain Jewish scripture, religious practice, spirituality, and mysticism to Jews and non-Jews throughout the world, is the author of this explanation and line-by-line commentary on the Tanya. Opening the Tanya guides us to achieve harmony of body and soul, of earthliness and transcendence. This remarkable book helps us to learn how we can each elevate our soul to a higher level of awareness and understanding, until our objectives and aspirations are synonymous with our Godly potential.
From the Back Cover
A Guide For Achieving Harmony of Body and Soul For more than two hundred years, the Tanya has been studied by those who know of its insight and wisdom with the devotion and the intensity usually associated with the Bible, the Talmud, the Koran, the Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita. Now internationally acclaimed author, scholar, and teacher Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz has written an illuminating and inspiring introduction to the Tanya. Opening the Tanya offers an overview of the Tanya’s broad philosophical and spiritual messages as well as point-by-point commentary on the text itself.
About the Author
Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz is a scholar, teacher, scientist, writer, mystic, and social critic, and is internationally regarded as one of the most brilliant and influential rabbis of our time. Best known for his monumental commentary on the Babylonian Talmud, Rabbi Steinsaltz is the recipient of the Israel Prize, which is that country’s highest honor. He has been a resident scholar at major academic institutions including Yale University, the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton, N.J., and the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. He has been described by Time magazine as a "once-in-a-millennium scholar."
Opening the Tanya: Discovering the Moral and Mystical Teachings of a Classic Work of Kabbalah FROM THE PUBLISHER
A seminal document in the study of Kabbalah, the Tanya explores and solves the dilemmas of the human soul by arriving at the root causes of its struggles. Though it is a classic Jewish spiritual text, the Tanya and its commentary take a broad and comprehensive approach that is neither specific to Judaism nor tied to a particular personality type or time or point of view.
As relevant today as it was when it was first written more than two hundred years ago, the Tanya helps us to see the many thousands of complexities, doubts, and drives within us as expressions of a single basic problem, the struggle between our Godly soul and our animal soul. Opening the Tanya is a book that offers a definitive introduction, explanation, and commentary upon the Tanya.
The internationally celebrated Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, who has dedicated his life to the study, teaching and writing of books that explain Jewish scripture, religious practice, spirituality, and mysticism to Jews and non-Jews throughout the world, is the author of this explanation and line-by-line commentary on the Tanya.
FROM THE CRITICS
Library Journal
Rabbi Steinsaltz has written an inspiring and illuminating introduction to the Tanya, a fundamental work of Hasidism and one of the greatest books of moral teaching (mussar) of all time. He presents overviews of its broad philosophical and spiritual messages as well as a point-by-point commentary on the text, originally written by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745- 1812). Steinsaltz's commentary, which covers only the introduction and the first 12 chapters of Tanya, includes explanations of basic Hasidic concepts, theoretical background, metaphors and parables from daily life, and stories from the past and present lives of the Hasidim. A glossary defines and expounds on various terms and concepts. Best known for his monumental commentary on the Babylonian Talmud, Steinsaltz is the recipient of the Israel Prize and a resident scholar at academic institutions, including Yale. No library should be without the complete Kehot Publication Society bilingual edition of the Tanya, and Steinsaltz's commentary will help to make a significant part of the original text better understood. Also helpful is Nissan Mindel's Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi: A Biography of the First Lubavitcher Rebbe. Recommended for large public, Jewish, and religion libraries and university libraries hosting Jewish studies departments.-David B. Levy, Beth Abraham Synagogue Lib., Baltimore Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
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