By COLlive reporter
A recent marketing campaign by a popular Torah study publication has called on English speaking Lubavitchers worldwide to “Stop Saying Tanya.”
They suggested that the daily portion of Alter Rebbe’s central work of Chabad chassidic philosophy should be learned and understood, instead of simply being said.
The “Start Understanding Tanya” slogan introduced a newly designed and upgraded format of the book “Lessons in Tanya,” first printed in 1983 by Rabbi Yosef Wineberg OBM, to the 10,000 subscribers of the Chayenu publication.
It was debuted in the Chayenu issue of Yud Tes Kislev, the day celebrated as the “Rosh Hashana of Chassidus” and the day in 1798 when the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi was freed from his imprisonment in czarist Russia.
While Chayenu had pioneered the linear format of Tanya, an easy-to-follow design empowering many to read the daily text of Tanya accurately with the basic English translation side-by-side, the absence of commentary made it difficult for readers to study the text.
The new edition, published by Kehot Publication Society, features a hybrid of linear-style text (for the vowelled Hebrew and English actual Tanya), with interpolated and running commentary in between paragraphs.
The result is “a blend of both, with the actual Tanya text being highlighted and easily identifiable, while interspersing it with the commentary,” Chayenu said, adding that “the new content will make the daily Tanya experience many times more meaningful.”
“It got people thinking and committing to start actually understanding and learning Chitas as apposed to simply reading it,” said Yossi Pels, Executive Director of Chayenu, about the campaign to “Stop saying Chitas. Learn it.”
The Tanya section of Chayenu is dedicated in loving memory of the late Dr. Rodney Unterslak (Refoel Levi Ben Yeshaya Dovid OBM).
Chayenu boasts a loyal subscription based of over 10,000 Jews in over 500 cities worldwide who are making Chitas and Rambam study a daily commitment, as instructed by the Rebbe.
For more information, visit Chayenu.org
I have started using the new enhanced Tanya. It’s a game changer! Absolutely Brilliant!!! The Chayenu team should be poshut Blessed for the incredible work!!! & as Moshiach said when the Welsprings of the waters of Chassidus will spread forth He will come” So this format of Tanya is giving the access of those Water to Yidden. May we see Moshiach NOW!!!
Like the way the layout is just getting better..Whos the designer for the flash banner?
Thank you Chayenu for providing us with Chitas, Rambam Sichos and Halocho etc in such a beautiful format.
For generations Chasidim were taught to say the holy words of Tanya and Mishnayos when one walks in the street rides the subway stands in the store etc. The literal reading of the words have a profound effect on the Yid B’Gashmiyus U’brchniyois. The poster could have read “Read it and Study it” etc. Hatzlocho Rabah
please G-d more and more people will see the value of subscribing to Chayenu as the Rebbe said, you want to help your livelihood, learn chitas.
I will bli neder say, I mean LEARN, Tanya and chitas in general, every day. No more excuses!!
THANK YOU
I will bli neder say, I mean LEARN, Tanya and chitas in general, every day. No more excuses!!
THANK YOU
Even though the message of the slogan is a very positive one,
IT is not a good idea and actaully not OK to use the words STOP SAYING TANYA
Please Note, IT Can be misunderstood, or misinterpreted.
I hope only the slogan of START UNDERSTANDING is what is out there.
Thank you for all your great work
Chayeinu makes LEARNING chitas extremely doable for everyone. With Chayeinu we have no excuse to just read, but rather we can easily learn.
learning Tanya with” Lessons in Tanya ” by Rabbi Wineberg OBM has literally created a paradigm shift in my understanding of life and changed me as person. Thanks Yossi Pels for this very overdue addition to an amazing publication.
Wow!!!! Incredible addition to Chayenu. Been waiting for it for a long time.
Catchy ad, I’m so glad that Lessons in Tanya by Rabbi Wineberg has been added to Chayenu, it’s going to change my chitas experience dramatically. Thanks Chayenu
Love your slogan for ‘learning’ Chitas. I’ve been using Chayenu since its inception and have waiting for an upgrade on Tanya. Thanks Chayenu Team.
Incredible
yidden have always been known for our brains
if we just become a bunch of people who read without understanding we are throwing away our greatest maila
what will we become?
Firstly, a huge salute to Yossi Pels & Chayenu team on this milestone debut, and huge Yasher Koiach to Kehot Publication Society for this empowering opportunity and Zechus.
Just want to mention that (while I appreciate the catchy Advertisement line), as per the Rebbe’s instruction, if one cannot (for some reason) make sense of the daily Tanya, it is still very valuable and highly important to READ IT at least.
This is clearly stated in a Sicha (which recently came to our attention). But we’re trying our best to minimize those scenarios…