Tanya Tools

Who are we allowed to rebuke? Only one with whom we have a close relationship, and one with whom we share a spiritual level. Then we must rebuke, it is an obligation.

To love someone as you love yourself, you need to strip away the masks and externalities. When we look at what truly matters, we realize that we are all one.

To truly love another Jew, we must remove everything that divides us, and focus on the one G-dly soul, united in it's very essence. Prioritizing the soul highlights this unity because our souls are one.

It is hard to feel positively towards a difficult person. Compassion helps.

Brotherly love must exist between each and every Jew. This is an expression of our love for G-d.

Loving every Jew is considered the entire Torah. How so?

Our relationship with every Jew has to be love. Even though one who seems so far from how a Jew "should be". The love between two Jews is precious. When love is challenged, invoke compassion.

While in the Talmud it does in fact state an obligation of hating one who sins. The Rebbe explains that this is conditional, depending on the exact conditions that make it permissible, but almost impossible!

To truly love someone as I love myself, takes me finding them in me. Focusing on the G-dliness in me helps make that happen.

Torah and Mitzvos can help restore and reunite my soul with G-d.

When there is G-dliness, there is joy. When you feel low, it's not a Holy place.

We exist to soar above, to ascend. Every time I do the will of G-d this is accomplished.

Sometimes the only way we can battle evil is with the tool of evil. Evil can master something of its own nature, such as anger or pride.

The reason for my existence is to create great elevation.

G-d is watching me every second. I fear G-d, and know He is watching, I can overcome my temptation.

Sometimes temptations are constant, and knowledge of G-d is so limited. Fear of G-d, however, is an always available tool that can come to our aid.

Recognizing that potentially any person serves G-d more valiantly than I do, will automatically make me realize my true humble nature.

Some fight enormous battles constantly, yet lose the battle again and again. It is not the product, it is the process. I must ask myself "Am I working as hard as I should be?"

No matter how much I want to indulge, I can always use the tool "Mind over heart". Remembering that G-d is constantly watching and needs me to do His will. I have the choice and ability to behave as I WANT to. It is in my hands.

Prayer demands focused thought. "I am doing your will". Prayer requires the involvement of the heart. "I want to connect, I want to be one"

We are clueless, we only perceive the outer layer of creation. We can therefore never judge anyone outside ourselves.

To serve G-d in prayer we need to overcome the inner and outer distractions. The battle is the will of G-d.

We can and must reframe our sights. With compassion, we may not realize the other person's environment, upbringing, inner battle, and the valiant struggles they contend with to serve Hashem. Often, the judgment we place on others is actually judgment on ourselves.

Every Jew believes. Our belief can be concealed, but if the covering is taken away, it remains. Evil may try to confuse us and convince us otherwise. The truth remains.

Learning Torah should inspire our hearts and minds. If we allow coarsening, this can block our hearts. We can cleanse this however to allow Torah to impact us.