Tanya with Rochel Schmukler artwork

Tanya with Rochel Schmukler

169 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 days ago - ★★★★★ - 23 ratings

This Women's Tanya Class is our interactive spiritual journey where we investigate, discuss and apply the revolutionary ideas presented in the Tanya, a foremost work of Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism by the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi.

Judaism Religion & Spirituality Education tanya tanya with rochel torah kabbalah judaism jewish mysticism women's torah class women's tanya class women's kabbalah class
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Episodes

Tanya Chapter 2 part 3. So many varying levels of souls, all from one Source. Why the differences?

March 21, 2024 18:00 - 44 minutes - 30.5 MB

All Jewish souls originate in the wisdom of Hashem, yet we observe a multitude of differences among them. Let's revisit the analogy of the seminal drop originating in the father's mind. Just as all parts of the body, from the brain to the toenails, stem from the same essence, so do Jewish souls originate from one Source. However, as the drop undergoes a nine-month gestation period in the mother's womb, it progressively descends from its source, eventually giving rise to even toenails. Simila...

Tanya Chapter 2 part 2. When it comes to the Divine Essence, there's absolutely nothing we can say to describe it. Let's pull this idea into our context

March 14, 2024 18:00 - 44 minutes - 30.8 MB

Now let’s look at the Kabbalistic teachings of the Arizal, who exposed supremely high levels of the Divine reality. How does Maimonides’ statement apply in this context? Only once the Infinite Light clothes itself in the highest sefirot of the world of Atzilut. Beyond that, there’s really nothing to say. In fact, the highest level of the known spiritual reality is exactly equal to the lowest level, that of material action, in this lowest physical world, relative to the Divine Essence. 

Tanya Chapter 2 part 1. There's something actually G-dly within you. Will you ever be the same?

March 07, 2024 19:00 - 45 minutes - 31 MB

Now, we encounter our second soul, which is described as "truly a part of G-d above." This soul is "blown" into us from the very innerness of G-d Himself. The Jewish person originates within the Divine thought, essentially a sample of the Divine "inner experience,"  and is called a child of Hashem, emerging from His wisdom which is inseparable from Himself,  as Maimonides teaches. Let's compare this teaching with what we learn in Kabbalah, which seems to challenge the notion that Hashem and ...

Tanya Chapter 1 part 3. Getting to know the origin of our first soul, unveiling the secret of the tree of knowledge of good and evil

February 22, 2024 19:00 - 49 minutes - 34.3 MB

Let's explore the first soul, the one that vitalizes our body and is clothed within our blood. It originates from the klipah and sitra achara, the realm of unholiness, and is made of the four evil elements that give rise to our negative qualities and character traits. Surprisingly, this soul is also the source for the natural Jewish traits of kindness and compassion. This is because it stems from the "glowing klipah" –– kelipat nogah –– which contains both good and evil, flowing from the eso...

Tanya Chapter 1 part 2. It's not about your behavior, it's about your identity

February 15, 2024 22:00 - 45 minutes - 31.5 MB

Who is this elusive beinoni? Defining him proves challenging; there appears to be no middle ground between a righteous person and a wicked one. Exploring various scenarios, we find that minor infractions do not categorize a person as a beinoni. Looking at the Talmud, we learn that the tzadik is someone who has no longer has an evil inclination; their sole drive is for good. But what about everyone else? What fuels their struggle? A new understanding emerges: Kabbalah teaches us that every Je...

Tanya Chapter 1 part 1. You took an oath in heaven before you were born. Now what?

February 08, 2024 23:00 - 49 minutes - 33.8 MB

Here’s the oath we took before we came down here – be righteous, don’t be wicked, and even if the entire world perceives you as righteous, regard yourself as wicked in your own eyes. How do we interpret this? Isn't it risky to view ourselves as wicked? Such a perspective could lead to either depression or apathy. Let's examine five categories within the Jewish people to gain clarity on this matter: two types of righteous individuals, two types of wicked individuals, and a beinoni. What defin...

Tanya Compiler's Foreword part 3. Our heart to heart conversation reverberates forever through this written word

February 01, 2024 20:00 - 47 minutes - 32.7 MB

A book really isn't one size fits all, and that is why you need a spiritual guide who can speak to you face to face, see you as the unique individual that you are, and give you guidance from that space of soul to soul connection. But this isn't a book. These are the transcripts of the deep, relatable answers that I gave  you personally, my beloved students. It's all in here –– all of the answers to all of the questions. Now you will no longer need to press for a private audience with me, bec...

Tanya Compiler's Foreword part 2. Can you hear the Divine voice that speaks directly to your heart in the Torah?

January 19, 2024 20:00 - 48 minutes - 33.6 MB

Can a book truly reach you on a personal level like a teacher can? Your soul is rooted in the Torah and connected through the Torah to Hashem. And yet, even a book founded on Torah  might not give you the guidance you seek, as not everyone is fortunate enough to discern their unique place in the Torah.

Tanya Title Page and Compiler's Foreword part 1. I know what you're thinking - A book like this should never be written!

January 11, 2024 20:00 - 44 minutes - 30.8 MB

The Alter Rebbe opens his seminal work, which comes to explain a verse from the Torah, “for this matter is very near to you, in your mouth, and in your heart, to do it.” The method of the book is “the long but short way,” and it is meant to take the place of a private audience with the Rebbe. Naturally, we resist this substitute for personal guidance! The Alter Rebbe speaks to us and tells us that he is fully aware of our resistance and deeply held reservations. Spiritual guidance must be pe...

Tanya Chapter 47. Personal liberation and transcendence every single day

December 22, 2023 01:00 - 47 minutes - 33 MB

The liberation from Egypt wasn't a one-time historical event. This is a personal experience, between me and my G-d, every single day. He comes to get me from where I am, and pulls me up beyond all worlds, to come close to Him in total fusion and unity. Nothing can get in the way of this fusion through Torah and mitzvoth except for one thing: lack of desire on our part. 

Tanya Chapter 46 part 4. Could you imagine that Hashem calls Himself by your name?

December 01, 2023 19:00 - 45 minutes - 31.3 MB

Now we explore the second meaning of "kideshanu" in the blessing for mitzvot. Hashem has literally made us holy with His intrinsic holiness, which is completely beyond the worlds. He becomes your G-d, His Essence manifesting through you, when you carry out a mitzvah, and thus we are obligated to stand up for someone who is fulfilling a mitzvah, even if they are ignorant and a boor.  In the act of a mitzvah, you become a chariot for the Divine just like Patriarchs. The only difference is, tha...

Tanya Chapter 46 part 3. The opportunity to reach beyond the created realm to a realm where only Essence exists

November 23, 2023 21:00 - 46 minutes - 32.3 MB

In giving us the Torah, Hashem has given us His very Self and Essence. Torah study is the Divine kiss – fusion so deep, where our essence merges with the Divine Essence. Hashem also embraces us in love by giving us His commandments, which are His limbs so to speak. His love for us is so great, and the fusion between us so complete, this is the reason why we say that Hashem has betrothed us with His commandments, like the fusion of man and wife who merge into one being and become one flesh. H...

Tanya Chapter 46 part 1. Tap in to your natural resources so that your heart mirrors Divine love

November 07, 2023 19:00 - 42 minutes - 29.4 MB

Here's a new method of feeling love for Hashem and this one is "very, very" accessible. This method requires only tapping in to your basic, natural self. It is part of human nature for one heart to reflect another, so that when someone loves you, it elicits love in response. Let's look at an analogy of a great, mighty king showing love to a lowly, despicable person in the dumps. What magnitude of love would this evoke?

Tanya Chapter 45 part 2. Compassion gives way to incredibly deep connection. Spirit to spirit

October 27, 2023 19:00 - 47 minutes - 32.4 MB

Yaakov, who embodied Divine compassion of the world of Atzilut, aroused compassion for Rachel, who embodied the source of all Jewish souls. Through raising his voice, he reached to a place beyond himself, to a place of boundless Divine mercies. Through crying, he was able to pull down this compassion, allowing us to awaken compassion for the Divine spark within us. And with a kiss, he channeled the ability to reconnect the Divine spark within us to its Source, spirit to Spirit, whenever we s...

Tanya Chapter 45 part 1. Have you ever considered having compassion for G-d?

October 20, 2023 18:00 - 48 minutes - 33.5 MB

If you are truly acting for the sake of Hashem, your driving force is the emotions you hold for Him. Either you love Hashem and so you want to connect with Him or make Him happy; or, you are inspired by awe and reverence, and tremble at the thought of ever being separated from Him. Now we explore a third way to act for the sake of Hashem, and that is by feeling compassion upon the Spark of Divinity which has descended from total unity with its Source, become enclothed in the body which is ca...

Tanya Chapter 44 part 5. Passionate, fiery love comes from realizing the vast distance

September 08, 2023 18:00 - 40 minutes - 27.7 MB

We are gifted with love as an inheritance: to realize that Hashem is truly my Life, to realize that Hashem is truly my Father. But just because it's innate doesn't mean it is automatic –– it takes effort on our part. That effort brings these loves to a space of "the heart's desire," and  brings the Torah and mitzvot produced by their motivation to a higher place than instinct, to the world of intellect, the world of Beriah. These loves encompass elements of instinct, intellect, and Divine gi...

Tanya Chapter 44 part 2. Here's how to artificially experience your true emotion

June 29, 2023 21:00 - 43 minutes - 29.8 MB

artificially

Tanya Chapter 43 part 4. Sometimes, you need an emergency prescription of love

June 09, 2023 01:00 - 46 minutes - 31.9 MB

There's the normal way of doing things –– start with basic fear, practice Torah and mitzvot and then let love illuminate your soul. But sometimes, love has to come first.

Tanya Chapter 43 part 3. You can never get enough of what you don't really want

May 20, 2023 00:00 - 48 minutes - 33.4 MB

There are two levels of love – one is a gift, one is the product of human effort. When you finally arrive, your love becomes divested of all of pseudo loves, and yearns for the one and only true love.

Tanya Chapter 43 part 2. A wise person sees beyond the obvious

May 09, 2023 21:00 - 50 minutes - 34.5 MB

Seeing past the obvious takes things to a whole new level

Tanya Chapter 43 part 1

April 27, 2023 22:00 - 46 minutes - 32.3 MB

The vastness of the universe is mind staggering. But still... it's only superficial

Tanya Chapter 43: Love and fear have two levels. Let's explore. part 1

April 27, 2023 22:00 - 46 minutes - 32.3 MB

The vastness of the universe is mind staggering. But still... it's only superficial

Tanya Chapter 42 part 5

April 20, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 41.7 MB

You think you can't see Hashem with your physical eye. It's time to reconsider

Tanya Chapter 42 part 4

March 24, 2023 00:00 - 47 minutes - 33 MB

Hashem's way of knowing what we're doing is something like the way we know ourselves

Tanya Chapter 42 part 3

March 17, 2023 00:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MB

Your essence is intact in a space beyond time. Here's how to pull its influence down so that it can inform your conscious, everyday self

Tanya Chapter 42 part 2

March 05, 2023 01:00 - 54 minutes - 37.1 MB

You can relate to your innate Divine connection as directly as you relate to something you see with your physical eyes. Two steps

Tanya Chapter 42 part 1

March 02, 2023 22:00 - 45 minutes - 31.6 MB

It seems impossible. Until you realize it's part of your core being.

Tanya Chapter 42: Awakening holy awe –– it's a "small thing." part 1

March 02, 2023 22:00 - 45 minutes - 31.6 MB

It seems impossible. Until you realize it's part of your core being.

Tanya Chapter 41 part 10

February 22, 2023 23:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MB

Can you do this just because it brings Hashem so much joy?

Tanya Chapter 41 part 9

February 09, 2023 22:00 - 49 minutes - 34.2 MB

Establish your intentions 

Tanya Chapter 41 part 8

January 19, 2023 22:00 - 44 minutes - 30.4 MB

Your soul can tap into the Garden of Eden still while in a body, and it yearns to experience this.

Tanya Chapter 41 part 7

January 15, 2023 06:00 - 43 minutes - 29.8 MB

You might not mean it with your whole heart, but there's a reason to get into the habit.

Tanya Chapter 41 part 6

January 07, 2023 00:00 - 49 minutes - 34.4 MB

Can you see yourself as a manifestation of the Shechina?

Tanya Chapter 41 part 5

December 29, 2022 19:00 - 43 minutes - 30 MB

Maybe your meditation doesn't leave its impression all day – but is it effective in the moment?

Tanya Chapter 41 part 4

December 29, 2022 05:00 - 42 minutes - 29.2 MB

Are you being true to yourself?

Tanya Chapter 41 part 3

December 15, 2022 21:00 - 51 minutes - 35.2 MB

A mitzvah is an incredible opportunity to surrender within our Source, both on a meta-level and as well as on a micro-level.

Tanya Chapter 41 part 2

December 09, 2022 20:00 - 46 minutes - 31.7 MB

To think that we are so close to Hashem!

Tanya Chapter 41: Accepting the heavenly yoke is the beginning of it all. part 1

December 02, 2022 02:00 - 49 minutes - 34.2 MB

Have you ever been in awe?

Tanya Chapter 41 part 1

December 02, 2022 02:00 - 49 minutes - 34.2 MB

Have you ever been in awe?

Tanya Chapter 40 part 6

November 10, 2022 23:00 - 1 hour - 41.8 MB

The higher it is, the farther it reaches.

Tanya Chapter 40 part 5

November 04, 2022 22:00 - 54 minutes - 37.3 MB

Love and fear are two wings.

Tanya Chapter 40 part 4

October 28, 2022 18:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MB

A tiny being can initiate vast positive change. When a person learns and prays out of love and fear, the letters he utters are “alive” with spiritual infusion and they rise to the ten sefirot. There, their true identity as the completely unbounded light of Hashem is exposed. In this world below, the radiance of Torah and mitzvot cannot shine, but in the coming future when the world rises out of its materiality, all of that will change. Now, something amazing happens when Torah and mitzvot –...

Tanya Chapter 40 part 3

September 16, 2022 18:00 - 47 minutes - 32.3 MB

The secret of intention?  The  power to send things up from the material world into infinitely higher realities. Man’s animating, speaking soul is subject to the condition which affects the totality of this world –– kelipat nogah. When speaking worthless things, the vivifying soul constitutes a concealing veil, obscuring the Divine life energy within it. However, when the vivifying soul enunciates and powers words of Torah and prayer, it cannot conceal the Divine. In fact, it becomes transfo...