Editing Toras HaChassidus (section)

=== The Foundational Sefer Tanya ===
Over twenty years from 1775, the Alter Rebbe wrote the sefer in which he expounds his teachings, the philosophy of Chabad Chassidus, which is the written Torah of Chassidic teachings. He also wrote many pieces of advice and answers to questions about avodas Hashem that his chassidim asked him in yechidus. In 1795, he completed writing it and authorized its copying. The sefer was distributed among the chassidim who received it with joy.

The opponents of Chassidus feared the sefer's influence, and therefore deliberately inserted falsifications to present it as a "heretical" book. With such falsifications, they presented it to the Vilna Gaon, and because of this, he ordered it to be burned. When the Alter Rebbe learned of this, he ordered it to be printed to prevent further falsification.

In 1797, the Alter Rebbe sent the sefer to be printed in Slavita, requesting his friends, disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch, Reb Meshulam Zusha of Anipoli and Reb Yehuda Leib HaKohen, to add their approbations. They were greatly impressed by the sefer and added their warm approbations. The first copies reached the Alter Rebbe on 20 Kislev 1797.

Initially, some Chassidic leaders did not accept the sefer due to the intellectual element in Chabad Chassidus philosophy, but eventually it was warmly embraced by them as well. Today, the sefer is considered the most important among the foundational works of the Chassidic movement, revered by all its streams and studied throughout the Jewish world.

This sefer contains the foundations of Chabad teachings and pnimiyus haTorah. The sefer extensively explains the structure of the human soul and the array of forces operating within it; it penetrates deep philosophical issues such as the relationship between the Creator and the world, creation ex nihilo, the unity of Hashem, the purpose of Torah and mitzvos, and similar matters, and it paves a secure and easy path for a person to reach elevated levels and serve Hashem properly.

The [[Tanya]] had a decisive influence on Jewish faith. Until the Baal Shem Tov, the opinions of gedolei Yisroel were divided regarding how Hashem supervises His world. The Baal Shem Tov innovated that Hashem's supervision is hashgacha pratis over every detail in the universe. The Alter Rebbe, in explaining the Baal Shem Tov's approach in his sefer, made this belief prevalent throughout all Jewish communities.

Its influence was so great that even the Vilna Gaon's student, Reb Chaim of Volozhin, reversed his rebbe's position following his study of Tanya, and acknowledged in his sefer Nefesh HaChaim that the truth follows the Chassidic approach regarding "tzimtzum lo k'pshuto."

Today, throughout the world, many Jews - Chassidim and Litvish, Charedi and even those who don't define themselves as Torah observant - participate in shiurim studying this sefer, which have a decisive influence on many people's lives. Many chassidim joined Chabad Chassidus following their study of Tanya. Indeed, the influence of this foundational Chassidic sefer reflects the Mashiach's promise to the Baal Shem Tov that "your wellsprings shall spread outward."
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