OBVIOUSLY, THE TANYA [PRINTING] CAMPAIGN IS PERSISTING AT FULL FORCE!

On Motzoei Shabbos Mevorchim haChodesh Elul, 5738 (34 years ago), the Rebbe initiated a campaign to print Tanyas “in all corners of the world” where a Tanya was not yet printed. He asked that for the upcoming “Chai” Elul, The birthday of the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe, the Tanya printings should be finished.

This request of the Rebbe persisted in the following months and years. Initially the campaign was to print in any country where there are Jews living. In the year 5744, on the 7th day of Chanuka (and on many occasions thereafter), the Rebbe repeatedly encouraged this “campaign”, adding that the Tanya should be printed in every city and town where there are Jews living.

Even if only one Jew is living in a certain location, the Rebbe urged that a Tanya should be printed there. The Rebbe spoke extensively about this “mivtza”, explaining that when the Baal Shem Tov ascended to heichel haMoshiach, and asked him when will he finally come, Moshiach responded “when your fountains [Chassidic teachings] will be disseminated to the outside”.

The Rebbe explained that (a) when a Tanya is printed in a certain location in the world, its not merely that the fountain was brought to that place, but that place itself becomes the source from where the fountain spreads outward. (b) When the name of a city or location appears on the title page of a Tanya, the inhabitants of that place have a much greater affinity to that Tanya, and it brings a greater interest in having the Tanya, studying it etc.

In the year 5745, the Rebbe was asked if the urgency to print Tanyas was still pertinent? The Rebbe responded that “its understandable mivtza Tanya is persisting full force”.

At one point the Rebbe wrote to an individual that “in approximately 50 places in his country the Tanya still needs to printed.” The Rebbe was persistently requesting more printings of the Tanya everywhere. Following are some excerpts of what the Rebbe said then: ….

As we are approaching the day of “Chai” Elul, which is a unique day associated with “hafotzas hamayonos chutzah” (disseminating the fountains of Chassidus outwards); which starts with the “Torah shebe’ksav” of Chassidus, the sefer haTanya, and being that (for whatever reason it may be) there are countries where the Tanya has not yet been printed there, so the request to Anash which are in those countries, to immediately start to print a Tanya in these countries, so that they may be ready for Chai Elul, and they should be ready for learning.

The request now is to everyone who hears this, or those that will hear about this request later – that if their country has not yet printed a Tanya, they should now print a Tanya. No one should make any of their own “corrections” but to print the Tanya “as is” – the only change being - to have the name of the city or country where it is being printed. And it should say in every Tanya that it’s being printed by the branch of Kehos in that respective country.

(to be continued IYH) (Motzoei Sh”P. Ekev,Mevorchim haChodesh Elul, 5738)