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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, July 3, 2013

Pirke Avos Chapter 1 Mishna 4: Be Connected to Great People

"Yosi ben Yoezer of Tzeredah and Yosi ben Yochanana of Jerusalem, received the oral tradition from the preceding ones. Yosi ben Yoezer of Tzeredah said, Let your house be a meeting place for scholars; sit at their feet in the dust, and drink in their words thirstily"

The company that a person keeps with shows a lot. This means if we open our homes to people that may have a negative influence on us, then we will most likely learn from them and go in their corrupt ways. On the other hand, if we decide to associate with people of stellar character traits, they will most likely have a positive influence on us.

The Mishna here tells us that our homes should be a meeting place for Torah scholars. As the Talmud tells us, we can learn a  lot of our Torah leaders even by their "mundane" talk. The reason for this is that these Torah giants have spent their lives immersed in learning Torah and developing themselves into great people.

The more contact we have with them, the more we learn and gain from their wisdom and insights. It is not enough to just learn from them but we should drink their words thirstily. The contact alone with such a person has the ability to transform them!

My family and I have been very fortunate to have had a connection with some of these great people. It is an opportunity to learn and hear from the Torah giants who have had their own special connection to their rabbis and mentors of the previous generation! These stories and inspiration can instill tremendous pride in a person as they are part of that great link of Jewish history.

My life has been forever changed and no amount of gratitude will ever be enough for these great people who allowed me to have a connection and witness such greatness. Whether it be seeing them in "action" giving Torah lectures or answering people's questions, I had the unique experience to see how the Torah can be internalized and lived on a high spiritual level.

The more we have interaction with such people and allow them in our homes and families can have a lasting effect for future generations. When my rebbe, HaRav HaGaon Rav Moshe Sternbuch, Shlita came two years ago to my neighborhood to be sandak (the one who holds the baby at the bris), I told people they should come just to see his face and witness spiritual greatness. May we grow to emulate such people!

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