Learning From the Tanya: Volume Two in the Definitive Commentary on the Moral and Mystical Teachings of a Classic Work of Kabbalah (Arthur Kurzweil Book) [Hardcover]

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz (Author), Meir Hanegbi (Editor), Edward Levine (Translator), Tuvia Natkin (Translator), Yaacov David Shulman (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0787978922 | ISBN-13: 978-0787978921 | Edition: 1

Learning from the Tanya offers a key for unlocking the mysteries of 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.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Learning from the Tanya offers a key for unlocking the mysteries of 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.

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. As relevant today as it was two hundred years ago, the Tanya helps us to understand the many thousands of complexities, doubts, and drives within us as a single basic problem—the struggle between our Godly soul and our animal soul.

The first book in the series, Opening the Tanya, explored the first section of original text of the Tanya. This second volume, Learning from the Tanya, goes on to the next major portion and offers the definitive explanation and commentary that guides the reader toward harmony of body and soul, of earthliness and transcendence. Learning from the Tanya is an extraordinary book that helps us to learn how we can 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

Because [the Tanya] is a 'written Torah' it requires, in every generation, an 'oral Torah' to accompany it and to serve as an usher and guide. This is especially true in our generation, in which so many people grew up without any contact with the Hasidic world and are unable to access this book.

It is for this generation, and for these people, that this commentary to the Tanya is written. The book contains the precise text of the Tanya as it was written by the Alter Rebbe, along with its authorized translation, and a full commentary that provides source references. I have added extensive explanations of basic Hasidic concepts, theoretical background, metaphors and parables from daily life, and stories from the past and present lives of the Hasidim. The book also contains an expanded Glossary defining and expounding on various important terms and concepts.

This book is intended for all of those who have the mind and the will for it, who desire to access this world and grow through it."

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (September 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787978922
• ISBN-13: 978-0787978921
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #761,763 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent exposition of Tanya, October 10, 2005

By 

Izzy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Learning From the Tanya: Volume Two in the Definitive Commentary on the Moral and Mystical Teachings of a Classic Work of Kabbalah (Arthur Kurzweil Book) (Hardcover)

At times an inspired explanation and exploration of the first Chabad Rebbe's book of Tanya. Rabbi Steinsaltz uses more words to say what the Rebbe says in just a few, but for most of us this is necessary to understand in depth and apply to ourselves what the Tanya is really saying. Many paragraphs in this book sound like they were written from an inspired state.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Down The Rabbit Hole....Kabbalah-Style, April 28, 2010

By 

Joel Alpert - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Learning From the Tanya: Volume Two in the Definitive Commentary on the Moral and Mystical Teachings of a Classic Work of Kabbalah (Arthur Kurzweil Book) (Hardcover)

Remarkable teachings. Not for the casual reader, or the timid. It's been made accessible for a patient person with a good teacher. Tanya has highly complex thoughts and sentence structure, but well worth the journey down the Rabbit Hole. And it beats finding a guru in the Himalayas, this is the real stuff of self-discovery and spirituality. Start with Volume One.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended reading for students of Judaic mysticism and the Kabbalah in general, and the Tanya in particular, October 14, 2005

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Learning From the Tanya: Volume Two in the Definitive Commentary on the Moral and Mystical Teachings of a Classic Work of Kabbalah (Arthur Kurzweil Book) (Hardcover)

Learning From The Tanya by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz is the second volume in the "Definitive Commentary on the Moral and Mystical Teaching" series focusing on the Kabbalah. The first volume of the series, "Opening the Tanya" discussed the first section of the original text of Hasidic Master Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi's "Tanya". This second volume takes on the next major portion of the Tanya, offering the definitive explanation and commentary providing the reader with a guide toward harmony of body and soul, of earthliness and transcendence, and a higher level or awareness and understanding with our human potential with respect to a relationship with God. A scholar, teacher, scientist, author, mystic, and social critic, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz is a world recognized expert on this subject, and Learning From The Tanya is confidently recommended reading for students of Judaic mysticism and the Kabbalah in general, and the Tanya in particular.