Zohar and Tanya

Both texts affirm the foundational status of Torah and mitzvot (the Tanya explicitly: 'המצוות הן עיקר התורה ושרשה' - mitzvot are the root and essence of Torah). The Zohar emphasizes Torah's hidden and revealed dimensions ('סתים וגליא'), with the sacred Name woven throughout it, focusing on the esoteric wisdom accessible to the righteous. The Tanya, by contrast, emphasizes the relationship between mitzvot (physical) and Torah (wisdom), framing them as outer and inner aspects ('זה בחיצוניות וזה בפנימיות'). The Zohar stresses mystical hermeneutics and the sacred structure of text itself; the Tanya stresses the functional hierarchy and mutual dependence of practice and knowledge. Both affirm Torah's centrality but approach it through different lenses: Zohar through mystical unveiling, Tanya through the practice-knowledge dynamic.