Tanya, Part I; Likkutei Amarim 12:10

Hook

Imagine a spiritual battlefield within each of us, a constant negotiation between our noblest aspirations and our basest impulses. This profound text from the Tanya grapples with this very tension, offering a compelling vision of human potential – not as a state of perfect, unattainable purity, but as a dynamic, ongoing process of conscious engagement. It names the hope that we can navigate these internal struggles, that even without achieving the ideal of a righteous sage, we can live lives of integrity and purposeful action. The dilemma it addresses is how to maintain this balance, how to ensure our nobler instincts, our divine soul, hold sway over the temptations and distractions that constantly vie for our attention. This is not just an abstract theological concept; it speaks to the core of what it means to be human, to strive for goodness in a complex world, and to take responsibility for our inner lives.

Text Snapshot

"The benoni (intermediate) is he in whom evil never attains enough power to capture the “small city,” so as to clothe itself in the body and make it sin. That is to say, the three “garments” of the animal soul, namely, thought, speech, and act, originating in the kelipah, do not prevail within him over the divine soul to the extent of clothing themselves in the body... Only the three garments of the divine soul, they alone are implemented in the body, being the thought, speech, and act engaged in the 613 commandments of the Torah. He has never committed, nor ever will commit, any transgression; neither can the name “wicked” be applied to him even temporarily..."

"...However, the essence and being of the divine soul... do not constantly hold undisputed sovereignty and sway over the “small city,” except at appropriate times, such as during the recital of the Shema or the Amidah... After prayer, when the state of sublimity of the Intellect... departs, the evil in the left part reawakens, and he begins to feel a desire for the lusts of the world and its delights. Yet, because the evil has not the sole authority and dominion over the “city,” it is unable to carry out this desire from the potential into the actual..."

Context

Date:

The foundational text of the Tanya, Likkutei Amarim (meaning "Collected Sayings"), was first published in 1794. This period marks the height of the Haskalah (Jewish Enlightenment), a movement that brought new philosophical and social ideas into Jewish life, alongside a burgeoning interest in Jewish mysticism and spiritual renewal. The Tanya emerged within this dynamic environment, seeking to make profound Kabbalistic concepts accessible to a wider audience, offering a framework for spiritual growth applicable to the everyday lives of ordinary Jews.

Actor:

The author of the Tanya is Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812), the founder of the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic movement. He was a towering intellectual and spiritual leader, deeply rooted in Jewish tradition and scholarship, but also receptive to the intellectual currents of his time. His aim was to provide a practical guide to spiritual development, demystifying complex mystical ideas and offering a path for every Jew to connect with the divine, regardless of their scholarly or mystical attainment.

Aim:

Rabbi Shneur Zalman's primary aim in Likkutei Amarim is to articulate a philosophy of spiritual life that bridges the gap between abstract mystical teachings and practical lived experience. He seeks to empower individuals to understand their inner spiritual landscape, to recognize the dual nature of their soul (divine and animal), and to cultivate the ability to consciously direct their thoughts, speech, and actions towards holiness. The concept of the benoni (intermediate person) is central to this aim, offering a realistic and attainable spiritual goal that doesn't require the unattainable perfection of a tzaddik (righteous person), but rather a sustained effort to manage internal conflict.

Two Readings

Reading 1: The Covenantal Struggle for the Soul

This reading frames the benoni concept through the lens of a covenantal relationship between the Jewish people and God. The "small city" becomes a metaphor for the individual soul, created in God's image and entrusted with a divine spark. The struggle described is not merely a personal psychological battle, but a cosmic drama played out in the arena of human consciousness. The kelipah, the "husks" or forces of impurity, represent the external and internal forces that seek to obscure God's presence and pull the individual away from divine service.

The benoni is the individual who, through diligent effort and adherence to the Torah, actively participates in this covenant. Their commitment to the 613 commandments is not simply a set of rules, but the very "garments" of their divine soul, the means by which they express their loyalty and love for God. The text emphasizes that this is an ongoing process, not a static achievement. The moments of elevated spiritual connection, like during prayer, are vital, but the true test of the benoni lies in the period after these moments, when the "evil" reawakens. The ability to consciously reject sinful thoughts, to prevent them from manifesting in speech or action, and to actively cultivate positive relationships with others, even those who have wronged them, demonstrates the active stewardship of the divine spark. This reading highlights the idea of chosenness not as a guarantee of perfection, but as a profound responsibility. The Jewish people, and each individual within it, are called to a higher standard, to continuously strive for holiness and to be a vessel for God's presence in the world. The benoni is the embodiment of this active covenantal engagement, a testament to the power of human will to align with divine will, even amidst profound internal challenges.

This perspective resonates deeply with the Zionist project, which can be seen as a collective brit (covenant) to rebuild and sanctify the Land of Israel. The struggle to establish and maintain the State of Israel, with its inherent complexities and moral dilemmas, mirrors the internal struggle of the benoni. It requires constant vigilance, ethical deliberation, and a commitment to uphold Jewish values in the face of external threats and internal divisions. The hope lies in the collective capacity of a people to rise to this covenantal responsibility, to ensure that their actions in the world, like the benoni's thoughts and deeds, are guided by a divine purpose.

Reading 2: The Civic Duty of Self-Governance

This reading interprets the benoni concept through the lens of civic responsibility and the cultivation of a just and functional society, starting with the individual as the fundamental unit of that society. The "small city" is now understood as the individual's inner life, the governance of their own impulses and desires. The kelipah represents the temptations and distractions of the secular world, the forces that can lead to societal decay if left unchecked. The divine soul, in this context, is the innate capacity for reason, empathy, and ethical behavior that enables individuals to contribute positively to the collective.

The benoni's triumph lies in their ability to achieve self-governance. They do not succumb to the immediate gratification of base desires, nor do they allow negative thoughts and emotions to dictate their actions. Instead, they actively employ their "wisdom" – their capacity for critical thinking and moral reasoning – to restrain their impulses. The emphasis on preventing sinful thoughts from becoming actions, and even on actively pushing away harmful thoughts, underscores the importance of conscious self-regulation for maintaining a stable inner life. This self-governance is crucial for building healthy interpersonal relationships, as seen in the benoni's commitment to kindness and love, even towards those who have wronged them. This active cultivation of positive social virtues is a fundamental civic duty.

This reading finds a parallel in the complex project of modern nation-building. The establishment of the State of Israel, for instance, can be viewed as a grand civic undertaking, requiring the collective "self-governance" of a people to create and uphold a just society. The challenges of balancing competing interests, navigating complex geopolitical realities, and ensuring the well-being of all citizens echo the benoni's internal struggle. The hope here is that by fostering a culture of individual responsibility, ethical conduct, and a commitment to the common good, a nation can achieve a form of collective "benoni" status – one that, while not perfect, is characterized by its sustained effort to govern itself justly and with consideration for its neighbors. This perspective emphasizes that true progress, both individual and societal, is built on the foundation of deliberate, ethical choices and the continuous effort to manage our internal "cities" for the benefit of the larger community.

Civic Move

Promoting "Inner Dialogue" Workshops for Civic Discourse

Inspired by the Tanya's exploration of the internal struggle and the benoni's conscious effort to manage conflicting impulses, we can initiate a civic program focused on fostering healthier and more productive public discourse. This program would be called "Inner Dialogue for Civic Discourse," and its core aim is to equip individuals with the tools to understand and manage their own internal biases, emotional reactions, and cognitive distortions, which often fuel unproductive or even hostile civic interactions.

The Action: We will develop and facilitate a series of workshops, accessible to diverse community groups (e.g., interfaith dialogues, community organizing meetings, educational institutions, workplaces). These workshops will:

1. Introduce the "Two Souls" Framework (Adapted): We will present a simplified, secularized version of the Tanya's concept of the divine and animal souls. Instead of religious terminology, we will speak of our "higher self" (our capacity for reason, empathy, long-term thinking) and our "lower self" (our immediate desires, ego-driven reactions, fear-based responses). The "small city" will represent our individual consciousness.
2. Cultivate Self-Awareness of Internal Conflict: Participants will engage in guided reflections and exercises designed to help them identify when their "lower self" is dominating their thoughts, speech, or actions in civic contexts. This could involve recognizing patterns of defensiveness, projection, or snap judgments.
3. Teach "Thought Management" Techniques: Drawing from the benoni's ability to reject sinful thoughts, participants will learn practical techniques for pausing before reacting, questioning their initial assumptions, and consciously redirecting their internal dialogue towards more constructive and empathetic pathways. This might include techniques like mindfulness, cognitive reframing, and active listening exercises that encourage self-reflection on one's own internal state during a conversation.
4. Emphasize "Action and Speech Alignment": The workshops will stress the importance of aligning one's words and deeds with their "higher self" values, even when faced with challenging perspectives or personal discomfort. This involves practicing respectful disagreement, seeking understanding rather than immediate victory, and committing to actions that foster community well-being.
5. Explore "Neighborly Love" in Practice: We will explore how the benoni's commitment to treating neighbors with kindness, even those who have wronged them, can be applied to civic interactions. This involves encouraging participants to actively seek common ground, to engage in constructive criticism rather than personal attacks, and to prioritize the collective good.

The Impact: By equipping individuals with the skills of self-awareness and internal regulation, "Inner Dialogue for Civic Discourse" workshops aim to foster a more thoughtful, compassionate, and effective public sphere. When individuals are better able to manage their own internal battles, they are more likely to engage in civil discourse, to listen with open hearts, and to contribute to solutions that benefit the entire community. This move recognizes that the health of our civic life is inextricably linked to the health of our inner lives, and that promoting individual responsibility for our internal states is a powerful step towards collective repair and progress.

Takeaway

The wisdom of the benoni offers us a profound and hopeful perspective: true spiritual and ethical growth is not about achieving an impossible state of perfection, but about the courageous, ongoing effort to manage our inner lives. It is about consciously choosing to let our nobler impulses guide our thoughts, words, and actions, even when faced with the persistent whispers of our baser inclinations. This dynamic process of self-governance, of actively aligning our internal world with our highest values, is not just a personal endeavor; it is the bedrock of a just and compassionate society. By embracing this challenge, we can cultivate not only our own integrity but also contribute to a future where dialogue is characterized by understanding, and our collective actions are guided by wisdom and a deep sense of shared responsibility.