Tanya with Rochel Schmukler
תניא - עם רחל שמוקלר
Rochel Schmukler • 186 episodes
Rochel Schmukler
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Name
Release Date
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1
Tanya Chapter 16 part 3. Your heart is a bridge and spiritual engine. But what if your emotions don't come through your heart?
Tanya Chapter 16 part 3. Your heart is a bridge and spiritual engine. But what if your emotions don't come through your heart?
Dec 4, 2025
54:13
2
Tanya Chapter 16 part 2. The second great principle: when the emotion is cool, but the alignment is perfect
Tanya Chapter 16 part 2. The second great principle: when the emotion is cool, but the alignment is perfect
Nov 27, 2025
47:26
3
Tanya Chapter 16 part 1. Your soul may originate from a level of spiritual gestation—here’s what that means for you
Tanya Chapter 16 part 1. Your soul may originate from a level of spiritual gestation—here’s what that means for you
Nov 23, 2025
52:25
4
Tanya Chapter 15 part 3. Should I work with my nature or against my nature?
Tanya Chapter 15 part 3. Should I work with my nature or against my nature?
Nov 16, 2025
45:11
5
Tanya Chapter 15 part 2. Rethink the struggle. It’s not just a step toward the goal — it may be part of the goal itself
Tanya Chapter 15 part 2. Rethink the struggle. It’s not just a step toward the goal — it may be part of the goal itself
Nov 6, 2025
48:00
6
Tanya Chapter 15 part 1. Are you there or are you becoming? Both are valid
Tanya Chapter 15 part 1. Are you there or are you becoming? Both are valid
Oct 31, 2025
17:42
7
Tanya Chapter 14 part 3. You might not be fully Divinely aligned, but you can try on the mindset and let it shape you
Tanya Chapter 14 part 3. You might not be fully Divinely aligned, but you can try on the mindset and let it shape you
Oct 31, 2025
30:01
8
Tanya Chapter 14 part 2. Big mistakes begin in blurred lines. Learn how to see with clarity so that confusion gives way to wisdom
Tanya Chapter 14 part 2. Big mistakes begin in blurred lines. Learn how to see with clarity so that confusion gives way to wisdom
Oct 26, 2025
52:51
9
Tanya Chapter 14 part 1. When you're already entangled in emotion, and intellectualizing won’t help… bend down and speak to your heart
Tanya Chapter 14 part 1. When you're already entangled in emotion, and intellectualizing won’t help… bend down and speak to your heart
Oct 21, 2025
48:10
10
Tanya Chapter 13 part 4. Truth and individuality—can a truth be uniquely yours, or does that contradict what truth really is?
Tanya Chapter 13 part 4. Truth and individuality—can a truth be uniquely yours, or does that contradict what truth really is?
Aug 7, 2025
53:00
11
Tanya Chapter 13 part 3. Reach higher than the emotion to access self-control
Tanya Chapter 13 part 3. Reach higher than the emotion to access self-control
Jul 31, 2025
43:27
12
Tanya Chapter 13 part 2. You may be spiritually struggle-free. Is it time to feel confident?
Tanya Chapter 13 part 2. You may be spiritually struggle-free. Is it time to feel confident?
Jul 27, 2025
47:51
13
Tanya Chapter 13 part 1. When good and evil come face to face in your heart -- who will arbitrate?
Tanya Chapter 13 part 1. When good and evil come face to face in your heart -- who will arbitrate?
Jul 25, 2025
40:50
14
Tanya Chapter 12 part 3. A flash of mental clarity, etched in the heart, has a lasting effect all day
Tanya Chapter 12 part 3. A flash of mental clarity, etched in the heart, has a lasting effect all day
Jul 10, 2025
52:45
15
Tanya Chapter 12 part 2. The beinoni’s secret to strength and self-mastery… it’s your secret too
Tanya Chapter 12 part 2. The beinoni’s secret to strength and self-mastery… it’s your secret too
Jun 19, 2025
50:55
16
Tanya Chapter 12 part 1. Whether or not to struggle -- is it a choice we have?
Tanya Chapter 12 part 1. Whether or not to struggle -- is it a choice we have?
Jun 13, 2025
42:36
17
Tanya Chapter 11 part 2. Does your Divine soul have a voice in the conversation?
Tanya Chapter 11 part 2. Does your Divine soul have a voice in the conversation?
May 29, 2025
35:08
18
Tanya Chapter 11 part 1. It really comes down to this—are you still capable of repeating the same mistake?
Tanya Chapter 11 part 1. It really comes down to this—are you still capable of repeating the same mistake?
May 22, 2025
46:38
Now we begin exploring the world of the rasha—usually translated as “the wicked person.” But let’s take a closer look at the higher level of rasha, who, honestly, doesn’t seem wicked at all. He actually sounds like a righteous person. He hardly ever sins, and when he does, it’s something small—and even then, it doesn’t come from his full self. Afterwards, he feels regret, turns to Hashem for forgiveness, and Hashem forgives him. So why is he still called a rasha?
19
Tanya Chapter 10 part 3. Reaching towards Heaven and the Heavenly response that is unleashed in return
Tanya Chapter 10 part 3. Reaching towards Heaven and the Heavenly response that is unleashed in return
May 15, 2025
47:20
20
Tanya Chapter 10 part 2. Can a person consumed with love for Hashem harbor any hatred?
Tanya Chapter 10 part 2. Can a person consumed with love for Hashem harbor any hatred?
May 15, 2025
44:34
21
Tanya Chapter 9 part 4, Chapter 10 part 1. If you can see through the evil inclination, it's rooting for you too
Tanya Chapter 9 part 4, Chapter 10 part 1. If you can see through the evil inclination, it's rooting for you too
Apr 24, 2025
48:54
22
Tanya Chapter 9 part 3. Transforming the animal soul through Divine pleasurable love -- how the soul's delight reshapes our power of desire
Tanya Chapter 9 part 3. Transforming the animal soul through Divine pleasurable love -- how the soul's delight reshapes our power of desire
Mar 20, 2025
45:07
23
Tanya Chapter 9 part 2. There's strategy involved and the prize is you. Two souls struggle to claim your identity
Tanya Chapter 9 part 2. There's strategy involved and the prize is you. Two souls struggle to claim your identity
Feb 28, 2025
46:46
24
Tanya Chapter 9 part 1. It seems rational, but if you break it down, it's nothing more than a raw impulse
Tanya Chapter 9 part 1. It seems rational, but if you break it down, it's nothing more than a raw impulse
Feb 21, 2025
51:44
25
Tanya Chapter 8 part 3. Secular science and philosophy: the issues, the dangers and the incredible opportunities
Tanya Chapter 8 part 3. Secular science and philosophy: the issues, the dangers and the incredible opportunities
Jan 23, 2025
51:04
26
Tanya Chapter 8 part 2. Purgatory: What does it really mean, and should you be afraid?
Tanya Chapter 8 part 2. Purgatory: What does it really mean, and should you be afraid?
Jan 17, 2025
44:19
27
Tanya Chapter 8 part 1. Intentions are powerful and can turn the mundane into something holy, but some realities cannot be altered by intent.
Tanya Chapter 8 part 1. Intentions are powerful and can turn the mundane into something holy, but some realities cannot be altered by intent.
Jan 12, 2025
46:44
What if someone unwittingly ate forbidden food with the intention of serving Hashem—and even used the energy derived from that food to fuel their Torah study and prayer? Can this energy rise to holiness and become clothed within the words of Torah and prayer?The vitality within forbidden foods is intrinsically tied to the three completely impure kelipot, meaning it cannot be elevated to holiness, no matter how pure one’s intentions. This reflects the Torah’s definition of assur—“tied up”—an objective reality that renders these foods inherently bound to impurity.Permissible foods, by contrast, draw their vitality from kelipat nogah and can be elevated to holiness when approached with proper intent. However, indulging in them solely for self-gratification temporarily drags them into impurity, leaving a lasting imprint even after a person realigns themselves with holiness. This residual impurity requires chibut hakever, the “beating of the grave,” to divest the body of its attachment to worldly pleasures.
28
Tanya Chapter 7 part 4. There's an effect on the self and an effect on the world, and they may be very different
Tanya Chapter 7 part 4. There's an effect on the self and an effect on the world, and they may be very different
Jan 5, 2025
47:17
29
Tanya Chapter 7 part 3. When the dam breaks and a torrent of love rushes through – the penitent’s tremendous transformative power
Tanya Chapter 7 part 3. When the dam breaks and a torrent of love rushes through – the penitent’s tremendous transformative power
Dec 12, 2024
53:41
30
Tanya Chapter 7 part 2. Elevating even the luxurious to holiness, like a sacrifice on the altar
Tanya Chapter 7 part 2. Elevating even the luxurious to holiness, like a sacrifice on the altar
Dec 8, 2024
45:03
Exploring kelipat nogah, the luminescent husk within the realm of impurity, which contains a mixture of good and holds the potential to be elevated to holiness or dragged into the depths of the three completely impure kelipot. Its destiny hinges on our intentions when interacting with the material world. When our focus is on serving Hashem, even the most luxurious items can be elevated to holiness, like a sacrifice on the altar. But when self-indulgence drives our actions, these objects are pulled deeper into spiritual obscurity, temporarily disappointing their potential.
31
Tanya Chapter 6 part 3, Chapter 7 part 1. Darkness has levels, and the question becomes - transform it or avoid it?
Tanya Chapter 6 part 3, Chapter 7 part 1. Darkness has levels, and the question becomes - transform it or avoid it?
Nov 21, 2024
45:05
32
Tanya Chapter 6 part 2. Learning to discern between the Divine core of reality and the external structure that hides it
Tanya Chapter 6 part 2. Learning to discern between the Divine core of reality and the external structure that hides it
Nov 14, 2024
42:37
How could anything exist if it opposes its essential life force? This is the secret of the exile of the Shechina—the Divine Presence—which vivifies forces that oppose it. Looking at this physical world and understanding the nature of kelipah—the obscuring husk—we can understand why darkness seems so prevalent here. And still, the infinite light of G-d fills this entire world through its investiture in the ten holy Sefirot.
33
Tanya Chapter 6 part 1. The fight between good and evil has to be fair
Tanya Chapter 6 part 1. The fight between good and evil has to be fair
Nov 8, 2024
47:55
Hashem created "one thing opposite the other." This means that all ten powers of the Divine soul have a corresponding counterpart in the animal soul, along with the three garments, or modes of expression. The emotional qualities of the animal soul are aligned with its intellectual nature.How do we identify a thought, word, or action as an expression of the animal soul? And how do we recognize what belongs to "sitra achra -- the other side"? Anything not directed towards Hashem is automatically aligned with "the other side."And how do we define holiness? Anything surrendered to the Divine is called holy—like the angels, who are in a constant, actualized state of surrender, or the Jewish person who would give up their life in martyrdom for the sake of Hashem.
34
Tanya Chapter 5 part 2. When Divine wisdom becomes your own. Unreal!
Tanya Chapter 5 part 2. When Divine wisdom becomes your own. Unreal!
Sep 26, 2024
54:32
Understanding the Torah offers an incredible advantage above all other mitzvot: the Torah we study literally becomes part of our very being, which is why it is called "bread." Firstly, it integrates into us; secondly, it provides nourishment and life energy to our soul. In this way, Torah is like food for the soul, while mitzvot are the garments that clothe it. Our Sages teach that Torah is equivalent to all the mitzvot because it not only sustains the soul but also acts as a garment as we strive to understand it. And when we articulate the words of Torah out loud, it envelops us in an encompassing Divine light.
35
Tanya Chapter 4 part 4 & Chapter 5 part 1. Reach beyond the cloak, you can embrace the Divine Essence.
Tanya Chapter 4 part 4 & Chapter 5 part 1. Reach beyond the cloak, you can embrace the Divine Essence.
Aug 7, 2024
48:45
36
Tanya Chapter 4 part 3. If you make the calculation, it will blow your mind. Compare one hour of Torah and mitzvot in this world with all of the life of the world to come
Tanya Chapter 4 part 3. If you make the calculation, it will blow your mind. Compare one hour of Torah and mitzvot in this world with all of the life of the world to come
Jul 12, 2024
51:48
37
Tanya Chapter 4 part 2. When fear powers the ultimate fight against evil
Tanya Chapter 4 part 2. When fear powers the ultimate fight against evil
Jun 27, 2024
46:55
38
Tanya Chapter 4 part 1. You love, but are you truly realizing that love?
Tanya Chapter 4 part 1. You love, but are you truly realizing that love?
Jun 20, 2024
48:57
The Divine soul has three garments through which it finds expression: thought, speech, and deed, specifically through the 613 mitzvot of the Torah. The intellect of the Divine soul is expressed through the garment of thought, while its emotions—love and awe—manifest through the garments of speech and action. Speech and action become the expression of emotions because the true fulfillment of the mitzvot is driven by love. Fear, on the other hand, is expressed by observing the prohibitive Divine commands, which can stem from either an external fear of rebelling against Hashem's sovereignty or a deeper fear, where one feels ashamed to do anything or nurture anything that Hashem despises.
39
Tanya Chapter 3 part 3. You might grasp an idea mentally, but how does it affect you?
Tanya Chapter 3 part 3. You might grasp an idea mentally, but how does it affect you?
May 30, 2024
45:06
Returning to our experience with chochmah and binah: once awe and fear of Hashem are born, our hearts become ignited with a fiery passion for Him. Chochmah and binah are the father and mother that give rise to love and fear of Hashem. Indeed, all other emotions stem from this union, as every emotion is a derivative of these primary emotions of love and fear. Now, let’s consider the third "mother," the third intellectual faculty that gives rise to emotion: daat. Daat is not about acquiring new information; rather, it is the personalization of what we have perceived with chochmah and understood with binah. Through the daat experience, we deeply connect with this knowledge, allowing it to profoundly touch and transform us. It is only by focusing our minds on what we have perceived and comprehended about Hashem that we can cultivate lasting and vibrant emotions for Him.
40
Tanya Chapter 3 part 3. You might grasp ideas mentally, but do you integrate them into your being?
Tanya Chapter 3 part 3. You might grasp ideas mentally, but do you integrate them into your being?
May 30, 2024
45:06
Returning to our experience with chochmah and binah: once awe and fear of Hashem are born, our hearts become ignited with a fiery passion for Him. Chochmah and binah are the father and mother that give rise to love and fear of Hashem. Indeed, all other emotions stem from this union, as every emotion is a derivative of these primary emotions of love and fear. Now, let’s consider the third "mother," the third intellectual faculty that gives rise to emotion: daat. Daat is not about acquiring new information; rather, it is the personalization of what we have perceived with chochmah and understood with binah. Through the daat experience, we deeply connect with this knowledge, allowing it to profoundly touch and transform us. It is only by focusing our minds on what we have perceived and comprehended about Hashem that we can cultivate lasting and vibrant emotions for Him.
41
Tanya Chapter 3 part 2. Chase after your inspiration until you grab it
Tanya Chapter 3 part 2. Chase after your inspiration until you grab it
May 27, 2024
44:33
Now let's look at the mechanism of the intellectual-emotional response. Every idea starts with a seminal point of inspiration, the point of chochmah. This point of inexplicable potential hovers just above our grasp, we don't own it and cannot explain it until we delve deeply into it, fleshing it out into its parts and particulars through the power of binah. When we apply this process to our intellectual appreciation of Hashem's astounding greatness, an awe of His transcendent majesty is born in our mind and moves to our heart as a real, palpable emotion.
42
Tanya Chapter 3 part 1. Your awareness creates your emotional reality
Tanya Chapter 3 part 1. Your awareness creates your emotional reality
May 23, 2024
46:02
43
Tanya Chapter 2 part 4. Do parents get to choose their child's soul?
Tanya Chapter 2 part 4. Do parents get to choose their child's soul?
Apr 4, 2024
45:21
Now we comprehend how cleaving to Torah scholars is akin to attaching to the Shechina. By connecting with holy people who represent the level of the “brain,” we can experience and manifest G-dliness. But what about those who rebel against Torah scholars and defy them? Are they still connected? Yes, they are, but their spiritual nourishment originates from an external space, lacking intimacy and vitality.Another crucial aspect to consider is the influence of parents on the child’s soul. The Zohar teaches us that the holiness of parents during conception significantly impacts the spiritual quality of their child’s soul. However, the Zohar speaks not of the soul itself but rather of its “garment”—the medium through which it manifests and expresses its essence. The refinement level of this “garment,” whether pure or coarse, greatly influences the soul’s ability to express itself and receive divine influence. Nonetheless, the essence of the soul remains independent of parental influence. Sometimes, a sublime and lofty soul is born to parents of lowly or sinful character.
44
Tanya Chapter 2 part 3. So many varying levels of souls, all from one Source. Why the differences?
Tanya Chapter 2 part 3. So many varying levels of souls, all from one Source. Why the differences?
Mar 21, 2024
44:24
45
Tanya Chapter 2 part 2. When it comes to the Divine Essence, there's absolutely nothing we can say to describe it. Let's pull this idea into our context
Tanya Chapter 2 part 2. When it comes to the Divine Essence, there's absolutely nothing we can say to describe it. Let's pull this idea into our context
Mar 14, 2024
44:44
Now let’s look at the Kabbalistic teachings of the Arizal, who exposed supremely high levels of the Divine reality. How does Maimonides’ statement apply in this context? Only once the Infinite Light clothes itself in the highest sefirot of the world of Atzilut. Beyond that, there’s really nothing to say. In fact, the highest level of the known spiritual reality is exactly equal to the lowest level, that of material action, in this lowest physical world, relative to the Divine Essence.
46
Tanya Chapter 2 part 1. There's something actually G-dly within you. Will you ever be the same?
Tanya Chapter 2 part 1. There's something actually G-dly within you. Will you ever be the same?
Mar 7, 2024
45:07
Now, we encounter our second soul, which is described as "truly a part of G-d above." This soul is "blown" into us from the very innerness of G-d Himself. The Jewish person originates within the Divine thought, essentially a sample of the Divine "inner experience," and is called a child of Hashem, emerging from His wisdom which is inseparable from Himself, as Maimonides teaches. Let's compare this teaching with what we learn in Kabbalah, which seems to challenge the notion that Hashem and His Knowledge are one. Delving into the profound insights of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, we discover that indeed, there is no disagreement.
47
Tanya Chapter 1 part 3. Getting to know the origin of our first soul, unveiling the secret of the tree of knowledge of good and evil
Tanya Chapter 1 part 3. Getting to know the origin of our first soul, unveiling the secret of the tree of knowledge of good and evil
Feb 22, 2024
49:55
Let's explore the first soul, the one that vitalizes our body and is clothed within our blood. It originates from the klipah and sitra achara, the realm of unholiness, and is made of the four evil elements that give rise to our negative qualities and character traits. Surprisingly, this soul is also the source for the natural Jewish traits of kindness and compassion. This is because it stems from the "glowing klipah" –– kelipat nogah –– which contains both good and evil, flowing from the esoteric tree of knowledge of good and evil. The distinct inclination of the Jewish animal soul towards altruistic goodness is unique to them. On the other hand, the natural soul of most people from other nations originates from the three completely impure kelipot, which obscure any trace of goodness. Consequently, the kindness they exhibit is driven by self-serving motives.
48
Tanya Chapter 1 part 2. It's not about your behavior, it's about your identity
Tanya Chapter 1 part 2. It's not about your behavior, it's about your identity
Feb 15, 2024
45:46
Who is this elusive beinoni? Defining him proves challenging; there appears to be no middle ground between a righteous person and a wicked one. Exploring various scenarios, we find that minor infractions do not categorize a person as a beinoni. Looking at the Talmud, we learn that the tzadik is someone who has no longer has an evil inclination; their sole drive is for good. But what about everyone else? What fuels their struggle? A new understanding emerges: Kabbalah teaches us that every Jewish person, whether righteous or sinful, possesses two souls. The first soul originates from the side of unholiness and animates the body by clothing itself in our blood.
49
Tanya Chapter 1 part 1. You took an oath in heaven before you were born. Now what?
Tanya Chapter 1 part 1. You took an oath in heaven before you were born. Now what?
Feb 8, 2024
49:11
Here’s the oath we took before we came down here – be righteous, don’t be wicked, and even if the entire world perceives you as righteous, regard yourself as wicked in your own eyes. How do we interpret this? Isn't it risky to view ourselves as wicked? Such a perspective could lead to either depression or apathy. Let's examine five categories within the Jewish people to gain clarity on this matter: two types of righteous individuals, two types of wicked individuals, and a beinoni. What defines a beinoni? How can we articulate their essential nature?
50
Tanya Compiler's Foreword part 3. Our heart to heart conversation reverberates forever through this written word
Tanya Compiler's Foreword part 3. Our heart to heart conversation reverberates forever through this written word
Feb 1, 2024
47:34
A book really isn't one size fits all, and that is why you need a spiritual guide who can speak to you face to face, see you as the unique individual that you are, and give you guidance from that space of soul to soul connection. But this isn't a book. These are the transcripts of the deep, relatable answers that I gave you personally, my beloved students. It's all in here –– all of the answers to all of the questions. Now you will no longer need to press for a private audience with me, because here you will find tranquility for your soul. And if you need help finding your personal answer in this book, seek guidance from the wise people in your community and they will assist you.