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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.
Thursday, January 30, 2014

Parshas Terumah: Why I love Serving G-d

"And the L-rd spoke to Moses saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel that they bring me an offering: of overy man whose heart prompts him to give you shall take my offering" (Exodus 23:1-2)

Rav Moshe Feinstein in Derash Moshe asks that the language of 'bring me an offering is strange' because it would seem to me that one is forced to do so. The verse later on (36:5) clearly states that the offering will be given from individuals with a giving heart!

Rav Moshe explains that the mitzvos of charity, chesed (acts of loving kindness) and even bringing G-d's presence down to this world in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) are not given because G-d decreed that we do them but rather they should come from our pure desire to do G-d's will. To reach such a state, a person will have to work very hard to overcome their evil inclination.

Even though there are plenty of mitzvos we are obligated to keep, nonetheless, we should do them like they are second nature. When we say the shema twice a day, we declare that we will love the mitzvos with all our heart, all our soul... The root of the word to love if we break it down is to give. We only allow ourselves to make the mitzvos part of us when we are willing to give our all to perform them.

This means we have to understand why we do them and how to perform them. When we understand the intricacies of each one, it has much more meaning and gives us more satisfaction when we do them. This will enhance our mitzvah observance and bring us ultimately closer to G-d.

This will lead us to enjoy more of what we do and not look at Torah observance as a burden. When we view the Torah in such a way and live it the way it is supposed to be, then we will influence others around us as well.

This has the ability to literally change lives. When we love something, we put our whole effort into it which will transform us. May we look at all the mitzvos that way and love serving G-d to our fullest.

Shabbat Shalom


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