Tanya (תניא, Aramaic for "it was taught") is a book more commonly known by its opening word although titled Likkutei Amarim (ליקוטי אמרים, Hebrew, "collection of statements"), an early work of Hasidic Judaism, written by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad, in 1797 CE.

The first few generations of the Hasidic movement established the various approaches of its different schools. The third generation great students of Dov Ber of Mezeritch, who spread out across Eastern Europe, became the leaders of Hasidism in Ukraine, Poland, Hungary and Russia. Among them, Schneur Zalman articulated a different approach to Hasidic Philosophy from general Hasidism. The founding Hasidic mysticism of the Baal Shem Tov, and subsequent Hasidic Masters, emphasised the emotions of dveikus to cleave to the Omnipresent Divine. The intellectual ("Chabad") approach of Schneur Zalman, continued by successive Lubavitch Rebbes, emphasised the mind as the route to the inner heart. The Chabad school requires knowledge of Godliness, drawn from Hasidic Philosophy, to establish Hasidic mystical faith. This enabled Schneur Zalman to take Hasidus to Lithuanian Jews from nearby White Russia, and aroused the opposition of their early leaders. In this, Chabad is a separate offshoot of general Hasidism, and to its students is the profound fulfillment of systematically articulating its inner depths. Therefore, in Chabad, the Baal Shem Tov and Schneur Zalman, who share the same birthday, are called the "two great luminaries" (after Genesis 1:16, according to the Midrashic account, before the moon was diminished), representing heart and mind.

The Tanya is the fundamental work of Chabad Philosophy, as it describes the general Chabad approach to Jewish observance and theology. Chabad writings of each Rebbe are characterised by their systematic intellectual form. In contrast, most Hasidic works of other schools are collected compilations of diverse commentaries. Therefore, the Tanya is the main systematic articulation of overall Hasidic Philosophy, in the general history of the Hasidic movement. General Hasidism venerates Schneur Zalman as one of its great founding figures, and the intellectual philosopher of the movement. They may study Tanya as well as other Hasidic classics, but may not follow its Chabad approach to Hasidic Jewish observance. In Chabad it is called "the Written Torah of Hasidus", while the many writings of subsequent Lubavitch leaders (as well as the other Hasidic schools) are relatively "Oral Torah" explanation.

Background to the Chabad approach

The Tanya deals with Jewish spirituality, psychology and theology from the point of view of Hasidic philosophy and its inner explanations of Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism). It offers advice for each individual on how to serve God in their daily life.