Anticipation Builds for Tanya Hasholeim Arrival
Anticipation is growing over the expected arrival of the new edition of Tanya – the Tanya Hasholeim.
Spanning over 1,100 pages, this deluxe set is the most ambitious Tanya published since the original printing in 1797. The format, first envisioned by the Rebbe nearly 100 years ago, has stirred excitement among Chassidim, Shluchim, yeshiva bochurim, and Jews of all types and circles, who study this special book.
Just before Gimmel Tammuz this year, news spread that Tanya Hasholeim was finally going to print. Sets were offered at a deeply discounted pre-publication price — lower than the actual cost of printing — thanks to twelve generous partners who donated significant funds to help bring the Rebbe’s vision to life. With their support, each set was made available for only $18.
Within just 28 days, every single copy of the 20,000 sets was sold — even before leaving the printing press for binding.
A total of 40,000 volumes are now on ships headed to distribution centers worldwide, all of them already taken. Not a single copy remains unsold.
This edition presents the Tanya in its original text, accompanied by a “pirush katzar—short commentary” — a concise commentary based on Shiurim B’Sefer HaTanya (which was personally reviewed by the Rebbe, and whose edits were carefully included in this edition). In addition, a voluminous section titled “Likkut M’Sifrei Rabboseinu Nesi’einu” gathers explanations on Tanya from all seven Rebbeim, including the Alter Rebbe himself, arranged in a clear, accessible style. The writings of the Rebbe’s father, Horav Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, are also included.
The very first copy of Tanya Hasholeim was brought earlier this month to the Ohel by Rabbi Chaim Shaul Brook, the project director, who dedicated years of work to bring this vision to completion. Later, another copy was brought by Rabbi Brook to Alma Ata, Kazakhstan, to the resting place of Horav Levi Yitzchak, the Rebbe’s father, on Chof Av.
Many mashpiim in Chabad yeshivos around the world — in both mesivtas and zals — have already expressed their desire to begin teaching their morning Tanya shiur from this new edition. Similarly, many Chabad shuls purchased multiple sets so they can establish a communal shiur, beginning again from the title page and introduction, and learning through to the conclusion of chapter 53 in Likkutei Amarim.
The editorial team has not paused to rest; they are already deep into work on the upcoming sections of Tanya: Shaar HaYichud VeHaEmunah, Iggeres HaTeshuvah, Iggeres HaKodesh, and Kuntres Acharon.
Meanwhile, the offices of Tanya Hasholeim — located in the offices above 770 — have been receiving constant requests from across the globe urging another printing: “Why should we be left out?” is the argument heard from many who missed the pre-order window and were saddened to discover that all 20,000 sets were already gone.
With Hashem’s help, during the week of Chai Elul, large shipments of Tanya Hasholeim will arrive from the press to major distribution centers worldwide. From there, they will be sent to local pickup points and shipped directly to the homes of those who pre-ordered.
The main pickup locations include: Kehot in Crown Heights; Kehot in Kfar Chabad; all 32 branches of the Ohr Hachaim network throughout Eretz Yisrael; Nachalat Har Chabad; and major Chabad communities such as Toronto, Montreal, Paris, London, Manchester, Vienna, Berlin, Amsterdam, Melbourne, Sydney, Johannesburg, Panama City, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Kiev, and Moscow. From these central hubs, the sets will continue on to nearby smaller communities.
In addition, shipments will be sent to every city and town in Israel, to shluchim and Chabad Houses in all fifty states across the U.S., and even to the 37 Chabad centers throughout China and Asia.
The Tanya Hasholeim Institute, under Kehot Publication Society and directed by Rabbi Yosef Baruch Friedman, has been led by a dedicated editorial team. In its early years, the project was guided by the Rebbe’s chozer Reb Yoel Kahn a”h, together with Rabbi Dovid Feldman. The current chief editor is Rabbi Menachem Mendel Kaplan.
The editors who worked on the books include Rabbis Shneur Zalman Wilhelm, Aharon Chitrik, Chaim Eliezer Twerski, Mendel Cohen, Yisroel Shimon Kalmenson, and Aharon Leib Raskin.
The collection of explanations from the Rebbeim was prepared by Rabbis Mendel Bennish, Yudi Browd, Levi Teichtel, Mendel Mochkin, Zalman Spitetzky, Eliezer Posner, Levi Kosowsky, Yaakov Raskin, and Shneur Zalman Raskin.
The overview about the ksavim of the Rabbeim on Tanya — including colorful facsimiles, many of them published here for the first time — was prepared with the help of Rabbis Yitzchok Wilhelm and Yosef Yitzchok Keller, of the Aguch Library.
Watch a special behind-the-scenes video capturing the historic printing of this edition:
