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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, March 6, 2014

Parshas Vayikra: We are Responsible for one Antoher

"Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, 'When a man among you brings an offering to Hashem, from animals, from the cattle or from the flock shall you bring your offering" (Leviticus 1:2)

Rav Moshe Sternbuch Shlita in Ta'am V'Da'as brings in the gemara Yevamos 61a that a Jew is called 'adam' (a man). Why should this be so? When a person is sick in one part of their body, the entire body suffers because of it. The Jewish people although scattered over the world, when one is in trouble or suffering the entire Jewish nation share in that suffering!

If a Jew, G-d forbid is taken captive or is in trouble, there is nothing that the Jewish people won't do to try and help. We have seen over and over again throughout history with Jews that are sick or in trouble how other Jews who don't even know the person will do what they can to try and help.

We see it unfortunately when one Jew doesn't do what they are supposed to do and stray far away from Torah, they are preyed upon by the other nations.  As we get closer to the holiday of Purim we see this in a glaring light.

Mordechai was the only one that refused to bow to Haman. In Shushan at the time there was this bow to Haman cult which Mordechai refused to be a part of. Haman had wealth, prestige and power and could easily have overlooked what this Jew did. Not only did Haman not look the other way, but he was bent on revenge not only against Mordechai but against the entire Jewish nation.

How many times have their been scandals that occurred to Jewish nation which did not get the ire of the other nations against them? One individual, one act but the entire nation gets blamed for it. This is what it means that a Jew is called 'adam'.

Each Jew is responsible for their brother even if he doesn't act like it. We are all one nation and when one suffers, the entire nation suffers.  A person cannot turn away when their brother is in trouble, that is called an act of cruelty.

We have to look out for others and look at our nation as one unit and not as splintering groups. When we do that and have genuine love one for another, we are that much closer to bringing Moshiach speedily in our days.

Shabbat Shalom

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