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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.
Monday, April 22, 2013

The 48 Ways to Acquire Torah: Setting a limit to One's Words

The next of the 48 ways to acquire Torah is setting a limit to one's words. This means that one should be careful with how one acts or speaks because if one does not make boundaries for themselves, then it is easy to make mistakes and sin. Just like in the laws of Shabbos, there are many decrees that the rabbis made so that we will not come to transgress a Torah prohibition.

Within the Torah, we see it many times that we distance ourselves from things so that we won't come to transgress. We are careful with how we speak and what we say so that it won't lead to lashon hara. We are careful what we look at so that it doesn't lead us to other transgressions.

We make a fence around the Torah to protect ourselves from potential spiritual dangers even if according to the letter of the law it would be permissible. This is because it is very easy for a person to fall even if they don't have attention. Therefore, if a person knows where their weaknesses lie, they should take special precautions in those areas.

The Yetzer Hara is very strong and compelling and does not let up for a minute. We have to be vigilant in our observance of Torah and mitzvos to guard ourselves against those things that are permissible which could lead us to other transgressions.

This doesn't mean we can't handle the pressure or the Torah way of life is too difficult, G-d forbid. It just tells us that society in general has tremendous temptations that we have to guard ourselves against.


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