About Me

Rabbi Chaim Coffman
Rabbi Coffman has helped people from all across the spectrum to prepare themselves properly for Orthodox Conversion to Judaism. His students admire his vast knowledge and appreciate his warm, personal attention and endearing sense of humor.
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Followers

Welcome to Rabbi Chaim Coffman's Blog!

I would like to thank you for visiting my blog, Beyond Orthodox Conversion to Judaism.

The conversion process can be a lengthy and daunting one to say the least and I want you to know that I am here to help you through it.

I have been teaching newcomers to Judaism for over a decade and over the last few years I have seen that conversion candidates really lack the support and knowledge they need to navigate the conversion process and successfully integrate into the Orthodox Jewish community.

I created my mentorship program in order to help make this whole experience as smooth and as painless as possible! (Can't do much about the growing pains, though ;)

Feel free to get to know me a little through the posts on my blog and visit the mentorship and syllabus page if you are interested in possible joining us.

I sincerely wish you all the best in your search for truth and spiritual growth.

Looking forward to meeting you,
Chaim Coffman

My Rebbe, Rav Moshe Sternbuch

In case you were wondering why I have all of these articles written by Rav Moshe Sternbuch, he is my Rebbe, and one of the gedolei hador (greatest Rabbis of our generation).

Rav Sternbuch fully endorses me and supports my mentorship program.

He is the address for all of my halachic or hashkafic (practical and philosophical) questions that I or my students may have.

The articles are based on his weekly talks on the Torah portion that the Rav gives in Jerusalem in his kollel. As a member of the kollel I get first dibbs on the photocopies and I type them up for my blog so you can all benefit from the Rav's erudition and insight.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Why don't Jews come and make Aliyah to Eretz Yisrael

Anonymous said...

What happens to a Jew still living in the diaspora? Why is it that they are not moving into the land that was given?

Rabbi Coffman responds: Many people will give different reasons as to why they don't live in the land of Israel. One reason may be because of the difficulty of making a living in Israel; another reason could be that they will learn Torah better in the Diaspora; others have elderly parents and they can't leave them.

There is a disagreement between the Rambam and the Ramban as to whether one of the 613 commandments is to live in the land of Israel or not. Many great rabbanim, the Vilna Gaon included, couldn't get to the land of Israel for various reasons.

There are many variables that make up the equation in such a difficult question. Education for kids is not a simple matter. If one's child is over the age of 10, a competent rabbinical authority must be chosen to deal with such a question.

Even with all these important factors, living in Israel is not an option for many because it is just easier to live in the Diaspora.

If one lives in a community with ample Torah schools, kosher amenities...etc. why would one want to live in the land of Israel?

Rav Mordechai Pogromansky, the Telzer ilui, when Rav Sternbuch told him that he wanted to go and live in Israel, Rav Pogramansky told him to be careful because when you live in the palace of the king, you have to raise yourself to a higher spiritual level because the king will demand more from you there.

It is physically harder in Israel and one has to get used to a European/Middle Eastern mentality, which for many Westerner's is very difficult to adapt.

While we would like all our brethren to come back to G-d's chosen land, many are just not able to come for reasons already mentioned and for some, they just have no interest to be there.

Rav Sternbuch's father used to say, better be a Jew in the Diaspora who desires to come and live in the land of Israel than a Jew in Israel who desires to live in the Diaspora

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