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Tanya: Chapter 8 - Part 1

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Francois Martin February 24, 2021

An awesome lesson! Reply

Kasriel Gaddi / Kenneth Gaddy Kingston, New York12401 December 29, 2014

Tanya. Rabbi, the life you breath into the Tanya Teachings you give is wonderous. Thank Boruch Hashem, long life and health be Yours Always in your days. Reply

arthur kaplun Dardenne Prairie , MO April 5, 2011

tanya chapter 8, part 1 Judaism teaches that God crated the world to give His creation ( people ) pleasure. in this part of his lecture Rabbi Gordon is opposite to this teachings. also his remarks regarding "EAT" - this is anti-Jewish. what??!! we all know how Jewish mothers make their kids eat. this is a legendary thing.

i completely understand about overindulgence but to avoid pleasure - this is un-Jewish. there is even a teaching that one of the questions God will ask you after your soul is there - did you eat all the fruits and other stuff I created? of course it should be kosher but then... i understand a sin of gluttony but not get pleasure...it is
overboard. sex is pleasure, family vacation is pleasure, eating is pleasure, children are pleasure. the list is long. not all pleasures are forbidden.

Judaism is not equal to asceticism. i know i'm a little off but - many things Rabbi Gordon said in this part of his lectures are strange. i didn't have problems with previous parts.

thank you. Reply

E L Israel December 27, 2023
in response to arthur kaplun:

Yes, there are both spiritual and animalistic pleasures. The pleasure derived from elevating the mundane to holiness is not forbidden; in fact, it is the greatest offering one can make to God. On the contrary, finding pleasure in degrading the mundane is considered sinful. It's all about the source of pleasure. True pleasure stems from genuine happiness, achieved by elevating the mundane to holiness.
In practice: Eating, having kids, and going on vacation, if the source of pleasure is by elevating it to holiness, then it is the purpose of life. G-d, wants you to enjoy the physical gifts he has blessed you, in the most holy manner.
All the best! :) Reply