Likutei Amarim [Tanya], "Book of Average Men" – "Gate of Unity and Faith", by HaAdmor HaZaken Rebbe Shneur Zalman of Liadi. Slavita: [R. Moshe Shapira Rabbi of Slavita, 1796]. First edition. Approbations by R. Meshulam Zushe of Anipoli (Hannipol) and R. Yehuda Leib HaKohen.
The book is divided in two parts: Part I – "Book of Average Men" – Explanation of fundamentals of worship of G-d. Part II "Based on the first paragraph of Kriat Shema" – Explanation of the fundaments of faith in the unity of G-d, according to the doctrine of the Baal Shem Tov.
The advantage of this edition is that it was completely unaffected by censorship, which impinged on most subsequent editions until this day.
The background of the writing of this book: In the 1790s, the Baal HaTanya was the only Chassidic leader in Belarus, which in those days, according to Russian government census, was home to tens of thousands of Chassidim. In that period, a mighty stream of followers flocked to his court to receive his advice on topics of service of G-d, which stole a lot of his time. People were sometimes compelled to wait for weeks to be allowed to enter his room, much to the Rebbe's displeasure. The Rebbe wrote three letters during the course of those years, instructing entrance to be restricted for those who had already had an audience with him, so that those who had not as yet consulted with him could enter with greater ease. The Rebbe consequently proceeded to compose booklets of guidance to Chassidim on topics of worship of G-d, as a substitute for private sessions. These booklets resulted in the book Tanya. In a letter to his followers (which later became the preface to the Tanya), the Baal HaTanya wrote that these booklets, name Likutei Amarim, consist of responses to many requests for direction in worship of G-d posed by fellow Jews of the country. Since he is unable to respond to each question individually, he is writing all the answers to common questions, so that each and every one can find the answer and advice appropriate to his difficulty in his service of G-d, without having to press forth to receive a private audience with the Rebbe.
This letter addressed to the public was written by the Baal HaTanya in 1795, when he gave over the booklets to be copied by hand, yet after inaccurate copies began to circulate, the Baal HaTanya decided to have these booklets printed. The printing of the book, which commenced in the end of the summer 1796, was completed on Kislev 20 of that year.
The Baal HaTanya wrote his book with in-depth study over the course of several years, refining every word and letter, eliminating any unnecessary words or redundancies. His grandson, the Tzemach Tzedek, wrote on this point that when the Tanya used the words Light, Force and Vitality, he intentionally used multiple terms, with great precision. He allegedly sometimes spent several weeks writing one letter of his book.
According to Chassidic tradition transmitted by R. Shmuel Gronem Esterman, the Baal HaTanya would give this book personally to his followers. When delegations would arrive from various villages, he would personally estimate the number of Tanya books needed for that place.
The Baal HaTanya described his book as capable of raising a person to be pious like our forefather Avraham. The Ohev Yisrael of Apta (Opatów) similarly said that our forefathers Avraham Yitzchak and Yaakov followed the approach of G-d worship described in Likutei Amarim. When his mechutan, R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (Berdychiv) saw the book, he expressed his amazement at the incredible feat of incorporating an immense and awesome G-d into such a small book.
The book was received with great veneration by most Chassidic leaders. Many of them quote it in their books. The Maggid of Kozhnitz (Kozienice) reputedly studied a chapter a day of the Tanya, while adorned in Tefillin of Rabbeinu Tam, and he once told R. Asher of Stolin that the Tanya is a book from Paradise. He quotes the Tanya numerous times in his books, even though he was several years older than the Baal HaTanya. The Ahavat Yisrael, Rebbe of Vizhnitz, said it is worth pawning one's shtreimel in order to purchase the Tanya.
The book was printed until the Holocaust in over forty editions, and until today in thousands of editions. The book is studied by most factions of Judaism as a fundamental work on faith and service of G-d.
Numerous Segulot are ascribed by Rebbes of Chabad to learning, and even just possessing this book, for pure faith, for averting foreign thoughts, for amending sins, for all illnesses of the body and spirit, for an abundance of blessing and success, for salvation and redemption. The Lubavitcher Rebbe instructed the book to be placed in every home and vehicle, as a Segula for protection.
Inscriptions (faded) appear on the title page and in several other places. Censor inscription and stamp appear on the verso of the title page.
[3], 4-86 leaves. 15.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains and wear. Dark stains to several places. Title page, leaves [2]-11 and 77-86 were detached, repaired and pasted at the inner margins. Loss of text to inner margins of the title page, with photocopy replacements. Open tears and damage to last three leaves, affecting text in several places, repaired and replaced with photocopies. Minor printing defect to leaf 80 due to crease in the paper. New leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 622.