Talk:Tanya (Judaism)

Peer review
Saw this on Peer review. I don't know the context or have a great knowledge of the topic either, but it seems it could be expanded a bit based on Hasidic writings and knowledge. It needs more historical context, however - some dates would be nice. It seems wikified enough to me. - Scooter 00:22, 18 Jan 2004 (UTC)

The general information seems fine, but an introductory sentence establishing a clear context might be good. Just a basic statement such as "Tanya is a book about Jewish spiritualism", or something like that (I can't really write a good opening, since I don't know enough about it). Other than that, it looks fine to me. -- Vardion 08:25, 21 Jan 2004 (UTC)

Tanya Rabbati
Please note that I moved Tanya Rabbati to it's own article, so as to create "Tanya" as a "stand-alone" - since so many articles point there (as opposed to "Tanya Rabbati"). Fintor 17:12, 31 August 2005 (UTC)

What does Tanya mean

 * What does "Tanya" mean? It doesn't seem to be related to the Hebrew name given for this work.  Either way, should be noted.  Kaisershatner 19:06, 9 February 2006 (UTC)

According to Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz's Opening the Tanya, תניא literally means "it has been taught" (p. 4) rather than "it has been said" (as is in the article). I don't know Aramaic, so I can't argue this point, but I'm wondering if you guys do read it. Thanks. Yonah

Yonah is right. The word is etymologically related to the Hebrew שנה, to teach, which in turn is related to שנים, the number two, indicating repetition. (In transforming words to Aramaic from Hebrew, the ש is often replaced with a ת.) There are two words meaning "It was taught" in Aramaic, the other being תנן, t'nan, which introduces a teaching from the Mishna. תניא, tanya, introduces a teaching of the Baraita. Musashiaharon (talk) 12:37, 22 November 2011 (UTC)

Zalman vs Shneur Zalman
"Zalman" is not a last name but the second part of the first name. The full first name is Shneur Zalman and should not be split. Calling him Zalman is like calling the current President "Mr. W.". The rabbi did not have a last name apparently (it was probably before the time when Jews acquired last names in Russia) and is usually refered to as Shneur Zalman from Liady, Baal Tanya ("the man of Tanya") or Alter Rebbe ("the Old Rebbe" -- this name is used primarily within the Chabad circles). I added some details to each section (sorry, I wasn't signed in). Alex 21:53, 17 Sep. 2006


 * his last name was barochovitch (son of baruch, if I remember correctly.) similar to the mittler rebbe's shneurii. 74.138.78.83 (talk) 15:49, 7 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Boruchovich is a patronymic, not a surname. The Alter Rebbe had no surname.  The Mitteler Rebbe adopted the surname Schneuri. -- Zsero (talk) 21:02, 21 October 2009 (UTC)

merge from|Hasidic philosophy
Much of the Hasidic philosophy article belongs here or in the Chabad-Lubavitch article because it's mostly about Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic philosophy. IZAK 07:45, 10 October 2006 (UTC)


 * Possibly, but if so, merge with the Chabad Article, as opposed to the Tanya article... Fintor 06:35, 6 December 2006 (UTC)


 * I think Tanya should remain its own article, since its central to many chasidic dynasty's, not just Chabad. --Shlomke 23:05, 6 December 2006 (UTC)

do not merge chassidic philiosophy is built around several books not just the tanya--Java7837 23:26, 19 February 2007 (UTC)


 * Although it's true that Tanya contains general ideas pertinent to all specific branches of Chasidic philosophy, for that very reason it deserves a page of its own, in much the same way as the Tanakh has a page separate from the general Judaism page. Yehoishophot Oliver 17:50, 1 May 2007 (UTC)

My edit
I do not see any need for the words Jewish mysticism in the kabalah link. Stop censoring me. 210.84.40.154 23:49, 26 July 2007 (UTC)
 * It is needed for the reader to know what it is referring to. --PinchasC | £€åV€ m€ å m€§§åg€  23:51, 26 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Ah yes. It must be called Judaism (Religion of the Jews (Jews are according to traditional views someone who has either converted to Judaism under a Bet Din (Jewish court of law) or were born to a Jewish mother)). Stop trying to get me to break the 3RR so you can ban me with those power you should of never got. 210.84.40.154 23:57, 26 July 2007 (UTC)
 * It's not censorship, nor is it an attempt to make you violate 3RR. It's about not putting a stumbling block in front of the reader. Having a parenthetical phrase that translates a foreign-language word is much more reader-friendly than making the reader click through to another article to find the word's definition. — Malik Shabazz (Talk | contribs) 02:17, 27 July 2007 (UTC)
 * This has nothing to with a stumbling block. Please don't fool yourself. 203.217.41.188 10:59, 30 July 2007 (UTC)

Statements about Gentiles
There exists a controversy about the Tanya on how it relates to Gentiles. Several prominent critics of Judaism have cited the book as proof that there exists an inherent racism within Jewish theology. Many of them claim that the Tanya calls Gentiles "totally satanic creatures", a highly disparaging way to refer to non-Jews. ADM (talk) 09:25, 21 July 2009 (UTC)

see an approach here:

http://emet.blog-city.com/chabad_theology_conversations_with_rtzvi_freeman_on_tanya_.htm —Preceding unsigned comment added by 122.107.217.142 (talk) 14:51, 14 April 2011 (UTC)

Menachem_Mendel_of_Vitebsk wrote parts of the Tanya
If the Tanya is partially based on the writings of Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, then why isn't he mentioned at all in this article? Someone please fix.Jimhoward72 (talk) 15:18, 25 June 2011 (UTC)