The Tanya presents an attainable path to G-d for every; Sooner or later all will get there; As a professor learn without prejudice; Share Tanya with others
By the Grace of G-d
25 Elul, 5736
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mrs. . .
Viale. . .
44100 Ferrara, Italy
Blessing and Greeting:
I received your letter of 3/9/76, in which you ask if it would be proper for you, not being religious, to read Tanya and similar books. I presume you mean not just reading, but studying it in depth.
No doubt you know that one of the basics of Judaism is, as our Sages formulated it, that “Every Jew has a share in the World To Come, as it is written ‘(being) a branch of My planting, the work of My hands, to be glorified.’” The difference is only in regard to the share, whether it be large or small, and whether one attains it with greater or lesser effort. But our Torah, called Toras Chayim (because it is both our guide in this life and the source of everlasting life) makes it clear that every Jew, man or woman, has a share In the World To Come.
The Tanya - as the author states in the title-page, is based on the verse, “The thing is near unto you - in your mouth and in your heart, to do it” (i.e. in speech, thought, and action). But he immediately cautions that "the road is a long and a short one," meaning also that it may be long for some and short for others, but everyone will get there sooner or later.
Sanhedrin 90a.
Yeshaya 60:21.
Bamidbar 30:11
