The Practical Tanya

Eli Gescheit

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Judaism
Updated Weekly

This weekly shiur is dedicated in honour of our dear friend Rabbi Yaakov Levitan (HaRav Yaakov ben Tzvi HaLevi HYD), who was taken from us at the Bondi Beach terrorist attack on 14 December 2025, 24 Kislev 5786. We explore the Chassidic work of the Tanya, by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, utilising The Practical Tanya by Rabbi Chaim Miller. Available to purchase from all good Jewish bookstores and online

4 days ago

Chapter 20- Non Dual Judaism

In this shiur we explore how the first two of the Aseres HaDibros – “Anochi Hashem Elokecha” and “Lo yihyeh lecha…” – actually contain the entire Torah: all 248 positive mitzvos and 365 prohibitions. Drawing on Tanya Chapter 20, Zohar, and classic Chassidus, we unpack the idea of Divine non‑duality – that nothing exists outside of Hashem, and the whole universe is constantly being created and sustained by His “speech”. We discuss: How every mitzvah is either an affirmation of Hashem’s oneness or a rejection of avodah zarahWhy Hashem only said the first two dibros directly, and Moshe conveyed the restThe meaning of “ein od milvado” – the world exists, but has no independent existence outside of HashemAnalogies of a candle near the sun and a stone thrown in the air to explain ongoing creation (yesh me’ayin)The Baal Shem Tov’s mashal: how a single spoken word is nothing compared to the deep, wordless core of the soul – just as the entire universe is nothing compared to Hashem Himself We end with a Rosh Hashanah–themed story showing what it really means to call Hashem “HaMelech” all year round – not just in shul, but in how we see reality itself. Download Chapter 20 PDF here- https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/tpf98zm9v86xepxwkiyb9/Chapter-20.pdf?rlkey=bit8l7e3m0dv0vwzfoxwi8dep&dl=0 Or purchase your own copy of the Practical Tanya.
4 days ago

Chapter 19- What Chochmah Feels Like

In this shiur on Chapter 19 of Practical Tanya (RabbiChaim Miller), we explore the Tanya’s famous mashal of the neshama as a flame that constantly flickers upwards, longing to reconnect with its source in Hashem. We unpack the idea of ahavah mesuteret – the “dormant love” hidden within every Jew – and how it is rooted in Chochmah, the soul’s super-rational window for divine light. We look at how this love can remain covered over by klipah,yet never extinguished, and how it can suddenly awaken in moments of intense spiritual test, empowering even a distant Jew to choose mesirus nefesh rather than sever their bond with Hashem. The shiur also explains why this hidden lovecontains within it a powerful sense of yirah – the deeprefusal to separate from G-d, even in thought, speech, or outward action. Download Chapter 19 PDF- https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fwgdokol6elffqku59ecg/Chapter-19.pdf?rlkey=evfyriljpx224eh6r6i0cih28&dl=0 Or purchase your own copy of The Practical Tanya from your local Jewish bookstore or online.
10 Aug

Chapter 18- Dormant Love in Your Soul

In this episode Eli Gescheit returns to the Practical Tanya to begin a multi week exploration of chapters 18–25, focusing today on chapter 18 and the “short way” to serve Hashem. Eli explains that when meditation and intellectual contemplation fail to produce love and reverence, there is an innate, inherited love in every Jewish soul—rooted in the patriarchs and present even in the least observant—which can be awakened and relied upon for spiritual return. He outlines the Kabbalistic framework (chochmah as the soul’s window, the ten spheres and four worlds, and their interconnectedness) to show how Divine light can reach every soul, and he uses historical examples (martyrdom under forced conversion) as evidence that this dormant love emerges under profound challenge. The shiur also includes a personal anecdote illustrating latent Jewish identity and emphasises that chapters 18–25 offer practical methods to unveil that inner spark. Clear, hopeful, and accessible—this episode is for anyone seeking a reachable, soul based path back to faith and practice. Download the PDF here- https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2f2cridf0junba4zqcn6a/Chapter-18.pdf?rlkey=nhy8ljp27egn5r8cy5r6au627&dl=0 Buy your copy of The Practical Tanya from you local Jewish bookstore or online.
9 Aug

Chapter 17: Within Your Reach

Is serving Hashem really within everyone's reach? In this chapter of Tanya, the Alter Rebbe explains that while we may not control our emotions, we do control our thoughts. By contemplating Hashem's greatness, we can awaken enough love and awe to guide our actions. The goal isn't perfection—it's consistently choosing the right thoughts, words and deeds. We also explore the transformative power of teshuvah, which enables every Jew to reconnect with Hashem, no matter how far they have fallen. Based on the Practical Tanya by Rabbi Chaim Miller. Download the PDF of Chapter 17 here- https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/7jtnisnwwzic01p0zwvcq/Chapter-17.pdf?rlkey=xz0b5wx0babdmft8i28bsrmgf&dl=0 Or purchase your own copy.
8 July

Chapter 16 – When Meditation Fails

In this shiur, Eli explores Chapter 16 of The Practical Tanya by Rabbi Chaim Miller: what it means when meditation “fails” and the heart doesn’t catch fire. We unpack the inner world of the Benoni, the constant struggle with the animal soul, and how even muted, intellectual awareness can still give “wings” to Torah and mitzvos. Through stories of davening, distraction, and natural vs. learned love of Hashem, this episode shows how sincere effort in hisbonenus is never wasted—and how Hashem “attaches a good thought to the deed,” lifting our avodah far beyond what we feel. Download the PDF of Chapter 16 here- https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1g0tjou7iym97ql4djogq/Chapter-16.pdf?rlkey=h7xvy2pelrhteaaptzgci1udg&dl=0 Or purchase your own copy of The Practical Tanya by Rabbi Chaim Miller.
8 July

Chapter 15- The Best Version of Yourself

In this week’s Tanya shiur, Eli Gescheit dedicates Chapter 15 to the six‑month commemoration of the Bondi Beach attack and the 15 neshamas lost, connecting the printing of Tanya at Bondi Beach with the mission of transforming darkness into light. We explore two types of beinoni—one who is on “autopilot” and one who is actively struggling—and why genuine avodah begins when we push even one step beyond our comfort zone. Drawing on the classic “100 vs. 101 times” in learning, the nature of the yetzer hara, and the idea of training the nefesh haBehamis like a muscle, this shiur shows how awakening our dormant love of Hashem through effort, mindfulness, and consistency helps us become the best version of ourselves. Download Chapter 15 here- https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/moovdfh22g0tphtbrjcv7/Chapter-15.pdf?rlkey=zyraet8gw9nea9s6plrm92ko5&dl=0 Or purchase your own copy of The Practical Tanya
8 July

Chapter 14: Living as a Benoni, Living in the Now

In this 16th instalment of The Practical Tanya, dedicated to the memory of Yaakov Levitan HYD and the 14 other Kedoshim from the Bondi Beach tragedy, Eli explores Chapter 14 of Tanya – “Living in the Now.” We unpack the true mission of the Benoni: not to eliminate inner struggle, but to achieve consistent self‑mastery in thought, speech, and action. Drawing on Hayom Yom, practical examples, and Rabbi Chaim Miller’s commentary, the shiur explains how to “sur me’ra va’aseh tov,” use habits and mental association to reshape our inner world, and why the ongoing struggle itself gives Hashem deep pleasure. The episode concludes with a summary of Tanya’s first 14 chapters and how they redefine success in avodas Hashem. Download Chapter 14 here- https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2h5eso0olu7ii6xtdnq45/Chapter-14.pdf?rlkey=dh5wed3vy0eqsxfrhkm4wht82&dl=0 Or purchase your own copy of the Practical Tanya by Rabbi Chaim Miller.
28 June

Chapter 11- Two Souls Struggling

This episode unpacks the “incomplete rasha”: a Jew who believes, falls, regrets, and falls again. We look at subtle aveiros in thought, speech, and action, the difference between mild and severe rasha, and the frightening state of “rasha v’ra lo” – yet with the comforting truth that the Nefesh HaElokis is never lost and Hashem always leaves the door of teshuvah open. L’ilui nishmas R’ Yaakov Levitin, Yaakov ben Tzvi HaLevi ז״ל. Download the PDF of Chapter 11 here- https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ougk7qlhz4nm1n4ia0hzp/Chapter-11.pdf?rlkey=hdrrxjig2kvpim56ol9vrsthn&dl=0 Purchase your own copy of The Practical Tanya from your local Jewish bookstore or online.

This weekly shiur is dedicated in honour of our dear friend Rabbi Yaakov Levitan (HaRav Yaakov ben Tzvi HaLevi HYD), who was taken from us at the Bondi Beach terrorist attack on 14 December 2025, 24 Kislev 5786. We explore the Chassidic work of the Tanya, by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, utilising The Practical Tanya by Rabbi Chaim Miller. Available to purchase from all good Jewish bookstores and online

Creator

Eli Gescheit
Years Active

2026
Episodes

22