Tanya by...Rami Shapiro

I always wondered how it would be if a non-Lubavitcher translated Tanya. I can't imagine a reading ot Tanya divorced from its environment of thousands of volumes of Chabad literature that build on it and explicate it. I was struck to recently learn that Otzros Hachochma offers a optional Chabad module that can be added to its database - seven thousand volumes.

On the other hand, there have been many Chassidic Rebbes and even on-Chassidim who studied Tanya and did not study its surrounding literature.

But a translation of Tanya by Reform Rabbi!

Who would rush in where angels fear to tread?

Now Rami Shapiro did it. Is it a New-Age take on Tanya? I had not read it and can't comment but perhaps one of the readers of this blog can share an opinion.

Here is how Rabb Rami spends Rosh Hashana (from his blog):

"Tonight is Erev Rosh HaShanah, the beginning of Judaism’s Ten Days of Awe that end at sundown on Yom Kippur. Millions of Jews will undoubtedly go to synagogue during this period. I won’t be one of them.

My reason for not going is simple: I find the experience unfulfilling. When I do participate in conventional Jewish prayer I find myself arguing with what I am reading. I don’t relate to the metaphor of God as father, king, and lord; I don’t believe that God is in control of my life; and I find the medieval worldview of the machzor (High Holy Day prayer book) incompatible with what I know to be true about life. So rather than sit and complain, I stay home.
.......
I will spend most of tomorrow morning walking in the woods by the creek near my home. I will chant and pray and talk with God, allowing that the Infinite All can manifest as a finite One with whom I can meet and dialogue. I will spend the afternoon studying Jewish texts: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job for these are the books that speak to me most powerfully. In the evening I will gather with my family to renew ourselves as a family, and to share our thoughts about where we are as a new year unfurls.

During the intervening days I will seek forgiveness, humbling myself until I flow like water into the low and narrow places within me that need watering that the seeds of holiness trapped there can expand and grow and shatter the narrows, and experience and share the spaciousness of love and forgiveness. And I will give tzedakah (monetary donations) to help those, both human and canine, whose lives are bleak and broken.

I will spend Yom Kippur: fasting, walking, praying, and studying. And I will do so alone. I have community in my life, but I find that this time of year is best met alone. That’s just me. But if I were a rabbi of a community, I would no longer ask them to dress in restrictive clothing, sit in a windowless room breathing stale air, and reading old books. I would invite them to wear lose clothes and comfortable shoes, and to walk with me beside still waters, to lay with be in green pastures, allowing the rustling trees to be our liturgy, and the chirping birds to be our cantors, and the babbling brook to be our rabbi teaching us to walk the watercourse way of humility, justice, and compassion.

So for all those who choose not to attend synagogue, know that you are not bad or disloyal or even alone. Honor the holy days in whatever way allows you to deepen your humanity. And may you in this way find blessing, sweetness, and peace this New Year.

L’shana tova "

Comments

[Badim]

Wow! He is caught in paradox. His neshama seems to be awakened on some level. I am intrigued because part of me can relate to an extremely long davening that at times can be devoid of deep meaning. While I know what I am supposed to do, lived experience and meaning are so crucial to connecting to such poweful days. Any advice?

-Badim

[Badim]

TO add to the previous post. I just came back from Uman where I mamash felt as if it was the beginning of the geualah. 45,000 plus of every type of Jew from Mea Shaarim to Jews with tatoos and piercings, all gathering to bring in the new year, experience achdut, and come close to a tzadik. It felt alive--- dancing and signing rather than a cold, stern, atmoshpher filled with din was the most meaningful Rosh Hashanam + Daving I had experienced. Still fresh in mind, this is one main reason I can relate to some of Rami's words.

p.s.Avakesh--COuld you comment on Uman in general?

[avakesh]

Breslav is definitely a post-modernist movement and what I see in Uman is a ppst-modern religion. Many aspects of it is where we need to go in order to survive in the this post-modern world. Other aspects are distubing. We wait for a wise teacher to show is how to incorporate the old into the new and how to make every davening in every shul more inspiring and of higher caliber.

http://www.avakesh.com/2008/07/the-torah-of-redemption-or-more-on-hirsch-in-lakewood.html

[Sara Raftenberg]

I am personally bothered by statements to the effect that "I can't imagine a reading of Tanya divorced from its environment of thousands of volumes of Chabad literature that build on it and explicate it".Tanya is an excellent sefer but it didn't eminate straight from Heaven with revealed implications thanks to the various L rebbes.It's a work that can stand alone and is open to different readings. Why worship L per se? I draw a lot of wonderful mussar from Tanya and some insights into Arizal, but don't worship it. That only closes a wonderful work that should be left open (and often reread).

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