T A N Y A

TANYA AND CHUMASH

The Magnum Opus of Chabad is a masterpiece called The Tanya, written 200 years
ago by the first Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman. The Tanya is the ‫תורה שבכתב‬
(the written Torah) of Chassidus. In many ways it is compared to the standard
traditions of the written Torah.
The Tanya is divided into 54 chapters (including the introduction). And the
Chassidim say that each chapter corresponds to one of the 54 Parshios of the Torah.
The following is offered b’derech efshar, as a possible understanding of this concept.

Possible Basis of Connection

TANYA ‫חומש‬
TANYA ‫חומש‬
Long Way, Short way 2 Stories of Creation Introduction ‫בראשית‬
Animal Soul Mankind Prior to the Jews Chapter 1 ‫נח‬
G-dly Soul First Jew Chapter 2 ‫לך לך‬
10 powers
Sarah & Yitzchak Chapter 3 ‫וירא‬
(mother & children)
Hidden Miracles of
Three Garments Chapter 4 ‫חיי שרה‬
Everyday Life
Special Unity with G-d in Dweller in Tents
Chapter 5 ‫תולדות‬
Learning Torah (Yeshivah)
Understanding the Animal
Dealing with Galus Chapter 6 ‫ויצא‬
Soul
‫קליפת נוגה‬ Elevating the Environment
Nature of evil Battling the Darkness Chapter 7 ‫וישלח‬
K’lipas Nogah (Eisav, Shechem)
3 levels of Tumeah Descent into Egypt Chapter 8 ‫וישב‬
Yosef Rising to Power
Battle in the Small City Chapter 9 ‫מקץ‬
Maintaining His Essence
2 levels in a Tzadik Yehuda (Yaacov) vs. Yosef Chapter 10 ‫ויגש‬
2 levels in a Rasha Blessings and Curses Chapter 11 ‫ויחי‬
Benoni Dealing with Enslavement Chapter 12 ‫שמות‬
Like a Rasha Paroh’s Options Chapter 13 ‫וארא‬
Every person can be a Liberation to Become a
Chapter 14 ‫בא‬
Benoni “Free” Person
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Mahn & the Oasis of
2 levels in a Benoni Chapter 15 ‫בשלח‬
Transformation
Recognizing the Greatness
Matan Torah Chapter 16 ‫יתרו‬
of HaShem
Head Rules the Heart Laws and Reasons Chapter 17 ‫משפטים‬
Gifts (Types of Love) to the
Hidden Love and Mesiras Mishkan Chapter 18 ‫תרומה‬
Nefesh
Beyond Expectations
Fear From Being Separated Building of the Mishkan
Chapter 19 ‫תצוה‬
from HaShem Finding the Missing Link
Jews Misunderstand
G-d’s Singular Unity Chapter 20 ‫כי תשא‬
Concept of Unity
Appearance of a Separate
Keeping Focused Chapter 21 ‫ויקהל‬
Existence
Selfness, Haughtiness, Idol
Double Vision Chapter 22 ‫פקודי‬
Worship
Torah & G-d are One Lesson of the Small Aleph Chapter 23 ‫ויקרא‬
Karbonos to Bring a Sinner
Sin and Separation from G-d Chapter 24 ‫צו‬
Closer to G-d
Inner service in the Mishkan
Revealing One’s Inner Powers Chapter 25 ‫שמיני‬
Baby Steps, Adult Thinking
Despair in Earthly Matters
Lashon HaRa Chapter 26 ‫תזריע‬
and Heavenly Matters
Don’t Worry from Thoughts Actions are Important
Chapter 27 ‫מצורע‬
of Sin More Than Skin Deep
Removing Disturbing Proper Intention While
Chapter 28 ‫אחרי מות‬
Thoughts in Time of Service Entering Holy of Holies
Dullness of the heart Aspire don’t retire Chapter 29 ‫קדושים‬
Making Room in Our Hearts
Humbleness Chapter 30 ‫אמר‬
for G-d
Distinction Between
More Than Love Chapter 31 ‫בהר‬
Bitterness and Sadness
Ahavas Yisrael Harmony in Life Chapter 32 ‫בחקתי‬
Traveling in the “Desert” of
Happiness in G-dly Purpose Chapter 33 ‫במדבר‬
Life

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Happiness of the Soul Nesiim – Challenges of the
Chapter 34 ‫נשא‬
Crying of the Body Leaders
Merit of Action Lighting the “Lamps” Chapter 35 ‫בהעלותך‬
G-d Desires this Lowly Spies Desired to be
Chapter 36 ‫שלח‬
World Removed from This World
Fixing the World Through Stop Arguing, for G-d’s
Chapter 37 ‫קרח‬
Doing a Mitzvah Sake
Deed and Intent
Secrets of the Red Heifer Chapter 38 ‫חקת‬
Body and Soul
Bilaam Attempted to Curse
Levels of Intention Chapter 39 ‫בלק‬
But Ended Up Blessing
Wings of a Mitzvah –
Pinchas’ Action Chapter 40 ‫פינחס‬
Love and Fear
Spiritual Battles Against the
Love and Fear of HaShem Chapter 41 ‫מטות‬
Forces of Darkness
Road Sign to Messianic
Is Fear a Little Thing? Chapter 42 ‫מסעי‬
Consciousness
2 Levels in Fear and Love of
Mishneh Torah Chapter 43 ‫דברים‬
HaShem
Additional Levels of Love of Shema Yisrael
Chapter 44 ‫ואתחנן‬
HaShem Two Paragraphs
Mercy on the Soul Heel of Life Chapter 45 ‫עקב‬
Love is Like the Reflection Set Before Us Choice of
Chapter 46 ‫ראה‬
in the Water – Face to Face Good and Bad
Daily Leaving of Egypt Cities of Refugee/Egla Arufah Chapter 47 ‫שופטים‬
G-d Contracted His Infinite
Going to War
Light Through Tzimtzum in Chapter 48 ‫כי תצא‬
Battle with one’s inclination
Order to Create This World
Additional on Reflection of The Secrets of the Altar of
Chapter 49 ‫כי תבוא‬
a Face in the Water Joy
All Standing Together to Do
Love (gold) Thirst to Cling
G-d’s Will Chapter 50 ‫נצבים‬
to HaShem
Key to Choosing Life
Holy of Holies Complete in actions Chapter 51 ‫וילך‬
Revelation of G-d’s Song of Moshe
Chapter 52 ‫האזינו‬
Presence in Torah Hear the Music of Moshiach
G-dly Soul Receives Fully
‫זאת‬
When the Animal Soul Complete Blessing Chapter 53
‫הברכה‬
Fulfills Mitzvos
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TANYA AND SHULCHAN ARUCH

The Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe once stated (Sefer HaSichos 5701, 142ff) that the
four parts of Tanya correspond to the four sections of the Shulchan Aruch. The
Previous Rebbe gives a short explanation of the connection between the revealed
basic work of Chassidus and the revealed basic law book of Judaism.

‫אורח חיים‬
Path of Life ‫יורה דעה‬
Teaching Knowledge

‫ספר של בינונים‬
‫שער היחוד ואמונה‬
Established principals of everyday
Chassidic life for the “normal” person In twelve chapters proposes the means
that a rational person can achieve “faith”

‫אבן העזר‬ ‫חושן משפט‬

Stone of Help Breastplate of Judgment

‫אגרת התשובה‬ ‫אגרת הקדש‬

Establishes the “home” life of a Chasid Fixing one’s attributes
Matters of prayer, Tzedakah and service
in the realms of Torah

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