Please note: This is a sponsored post.
The goal of The Rebbe’s Chinese Translations is to spread the wellsprings of Chassidus to the Chinese language. Our first project is to translate The Tanya, the seminal book of Chassidus, into Chinese. We are currently translating the Alter Rebbe’s Tanya Part II: “Chinuch Katan” and “Shaar Hayichud Vehaemunah”. Once completed it will be published by Kehos as a hardcover book, and will be digitized and disseminated online through the Chabad.org website, as well as many other forums.
In the process of translating the Tanya, we discovered that in the mid-1980s the Lubavitcher Rebbe personally asked for two works of Chassidic thought to be translated and disseminated in Chinese: The Divine Commandments and My Prayer. The Divine Commandments was translated, published, and presented to the Rebbe in 1989. My Prayer was translated and delivered to the Rebbe in draft form, but has never been edited or published, until now.
Upon this recent discovery, our team of translators took up the task of digitizing The Divine Commandments, so that we can disseminate it online to a wider audience. Our translating team is also meticulously editing the translation of My Prayer to be digitized, published and disseminated as per the Rebbe’s request.
To the Rebbe, this is a project that is of great importance. In fact, as early as 1946 the Rebbe asked the group of Bochurim who were in Shanghai to find out if there are any local Jews who only speak Chinese, and if so to translate the pamphlets on Shabbos, tefillin, the Torah, and the Jewish people into the native language. See the full letter here.
To complete the Rebbe’s project that was started 40 years ago, and to pioneer the first ever translation of the Tanya into Chinese, we need your help and your involvement.
It can’t happen any other way!
Please make a generous donation to this groundbreaking project!
Wellsprings Global is a non-profit organization with a mission to spread the teachings of Chassidus to the world. We do this by translating, publishing, and digitizing works of Chassidus into different languages, thereby bringing Moshiach closer. The Lubavitcher Rebbe explained that by translating Chassidus into different languages we actually elevate the language from its mundane state, bringing it into the realm of holiness.
The Rebbe’s Chinese Translations is an independent initiative undertaken exclusively by Wellsprings Global, and is not affiliated with any other non-profit organization or charity.
Editor Rabbi Mattisyahu Trusch earned a masters from Harvard University in Chinese Studies, contributed to R Tzvi Freeman’s chabad.org series “An Introduction to Jews and Judaism in Chinese,” and teaches Jewish Daily Wisdom in Chinese. He oversees a team of Chinese translators in Israel, UK and USA. He is also the co-host of the Gate of Trust Podcast, and creator of TRUST 101.
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6 Comments On "Translating Chassidus For The World! Help Pioneer The First Ever Translation Of The Tanya Into Chinese!"
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Huh?
What
Why
Exactly. I’m into Chabad, but translating Tanya into Chinese is a total waste of time and money. The Rebbe wanted translated seforim regarding the 10 Noahide Laws. There’s at least a point to that. But Tanya? Ridiculous!
Are there 10 or 7 nohide laws?
I’m a bit confused. Can’t this 100000 dollars of tzedakah money be better spent teaching basic Judaism. If you’re set on translating to Chinese for some odd reason maybe chumash rashi is a more appropriate option.
or maybe to translate some chinese business books to yiddish
BH
The people on this discussion bring up very valid questions and concerns! And I respect them for being honest and open!
Yes it’s true that priority should usually be on basic and fundamental books, yet, there’s something else going on here behind the scenes, as I will try to explain.
There are ongoing mitzvos and there is “the call of the hour.” As it becomes clear from the following story and article, there’s another angle to consider.
https://www.chabad.org/kabbalah/article_cdo/aid/380401/jewish/The-Chamber-of-Mashiach.htm
Everyone today agrees that now more than ever we are in need for the coming of moshiach. Although in regular times, priority would be in printing chumashim etc. There is something special about printing chasidus, translating it, and disseminating it, to as many languages and two as many countries as possible. Hence, the Rebbe’s encouragement to print Tanyas in every location possible.
See here: https://www.chabad.org/therebbe/article_cdo/aid/2515469/jewish/The-Printing-of-Tanya.htm
Although translating Tanya into Chinese may not have been on the top of my mind or on my top priority list, when someone else takes the initiative of doing it, I will definitely try to show him my support!
Who knows, this may be the last mitzva to tip the scale and bring moshiach, as explained in the above story.