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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.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013

The 48 Ways to Acquire Torah: Reporting a thing in the name of the person who said it

The last of the 48 ways to acquire Torah is reporting something you heard in the name of the person who said it. This is the last of the 48 ways to acquire Torah and the question that must be asked is why is this the last one? Why would this be considered such a great thing that would lead into the holiday of Shavuos? Not only that but the end of the Mishna tells us that if we do this, it will bring redemption to the world!

The reason that this is so important is because it shows the ultimate in humility in a person. If we were learning something and came up with a tremendous novelty that seemingly no one else has thought of, it would make us incredibly happy. All the effort we have just put in, all the hours, research, who wouldn't be happy? What if we find though, that someone else has already come up with the same idea?

Would we be so gracious as to give credit to someone else for our "novelty" or rather keep it for ourselves? Logic would dictate that we would rather keep it for ourselves than give credit to someone else. After all our hard work, thought and research, how could we possibly give credit to someone else for all the effort we put in?

This not only shows our humility but also our ability to give the credit to someone else for our own idea! This idea is so important that the Mishna tells us that we bring redemption to the world. This is such a selfless act, how could it not be deemed so important?

After all, mankind is selfish in general and our egos can be as big as the universe itself and we have now given of ourselves so much that we are willing to give someone credit for "my"  idea! Incredible that man has the ability to raise themselves to such a level! This act of selflessness transforms man to want to give more of themselves and do other acts of loving kindness that will transform themselves into the great people that they can be become.

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