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, September 22, 2010

Wishing everyone a nice Sukkos

As we come out of the High Holy days, we have made G-d king and received selichah (forgiveness) and caparah (atonement), we come to Sukkos, the time of great enjoyment! We go from our homes to our temporary huts exposing ourselves to the elements. We acknowledge that we are living in a temporary world and we read the book of Koheles (Ecclesiastes) on Shabbos.

King Solomon tells us many times throughout Koheles, that he has searched the world and found nothing as true as Torah! Everything else is temporary, Torah is truly everlasting!

We also put a white sheet in our sukkah reminding us of the Ananaei ha'Kavod (the clouds of Glory) and the Exodus from Egypt! The white cloth also represents the Tzel d'hemnusa (the shade of belief). What is this? This is the ability to see that only G-d runs the world! The Tzel has the ability to envelop us if we take its message to heart.

If we don't the Tzel (if we change the letters around) can make us into a leitz (a scoffer, mocker). How does this work? If we don't see G-d's hand in the world or acknwoledge that He runs the world, then in essence we are scoffers. There can be nothing worse than this because these type of people will not receive the Divine Presence in the next world.

It is all a matter where our reference point is. If we continue to strive and try to the best of our ability to bring G-d into our lives, that is what He wants. At the same time, as Rav Gedaliah Shore, the former Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas said, all the holidays have their special spiritual influence. If we don't use that influence properly we don't get it back.

We should use these days to the best of our ability to bring G-d down to this world and help us reach our true potential.

Have a great holiday!

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