Blog Archive

Blog Archive

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.
View my complete profile

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.
Thursday, April 18, 2013

The 48 Ways of Acquiring Torah: Accepting Suffering

The next of the 48 ways to acquire Torah is accepting suffering. We don't understand why people suffer and how these things work but one thing is clear: whatever trial and tribulation a person has, is something to grow and learn from. The purpose of of these trials and tribulations is to help us strive and be better people.

Although we pray every day that we are not interested in trials and tribulations but this is how we grow. Don't we pray better and act better when our backs are against the wall and it looks like there is nowhere else to turn. Why don't we pray that way when all is going well?

Sometimes we forget about the goodness that we have and we are lulled into sleep most of the year. Why take things for granted? Shouldn't we be thankful for everything we have because in reality, if G-d doesn't want us to have it, we won't. Life hangs in the balance and things could change overnight in so many different ways.

The important lesson we learn from this is that even if we do suffer and have difficulties, nonetheless, I still have to serve G-d and keep the Torah and its mitzvos to the best of our ability. No one said this was going to be easy. Whoever said life was easy?

Even if we do suffer and have difficulties, we still have to look at what he have and the goodness that we truly have. If we are healthy and our families are healthy, aren't we the richest people in the world? After all, we are not in a hospital for anything, and we are able to eat, exercise...the little things that keep up going.

The problem is what happens when I receive some sort of difficulty or suffering? Am I ready to curse G-d straight away for what has happened or am I going to strengthen my mitzvah observance and work harder on my commitment to G-d? Sometimes we need to be pushed along to realize this and then we wake up and reach higher levels of spiritual development.

0 comments: