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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, May 15, 2014

Parshas Bechukosai: Torah is My Life!

"If you will follow my decrees and observe my commandments and perform the." (Leviticus 26:3)

Rav Yonasan Eibshitz z"l  explains that the difference between an angel and a tzadik (righteous person) is that an angel cannot change his level of spirituality;he always stays at the same level; tzadikim even try and understand chukim (laws of the Torah that are beyond our grasp and a Divine decree) to the best of their ability to get to the essence of what the Torah means. This is what the Torah means that we should follow G-d's decrees even if they seem incomprehensible to us.

Rav Moshe Sternbuch Shlit'a explains in Ta'am V'Da'as this is what Rashi means that we should strive hard to understand Torah. The question is though if we are obligated to use all our strength to understand the Torah, why use the language of a chok, of something that we don't understand which is a decree from above?

Rav Moshe Shneider z"l the Rosh Yeshiva of Eitz Chaim in England and Rav Sternbuch's rebbe explained that striving in Torah means that even while you are walking or going somewhere, you should be thinking in Torah! Someone who learns Torah will be judged not only for how he studied but what preoccupied his thoughts as well!

Did he live by the words he learned? Did he speak words of Torah when not learning? How did he act outside the sacred walls of the study hall? Rav Shneider was very stringent that at all times either while the students were eating or walking around outside, their minds were filled with Torah thoughts.

This may seem a little extreme. Isn't there down time in Torah when we can relax? The answer is that our lives revolve around Torah. Every second of every day gives us the ability to learn and do mitzvos. Even when we can't be preoccupied in learning when we have other things to do, nonetheless our thoughts shoudl be in Torah.

Our lives should show that the Torah is the most important thing! This is demonstrated by how we speak, eat and deal with others. If we look at Torah as another subject to learn, G-d forbid, then the Torah has no significance for us. It is nothing more than mental gymnastics.

The essence of Torah is to envelop what we learn and make it part of us. This has the ability to influence our families and people around us bringing G-d's presence to this world.

Shabbat Shalom

1 comments:

Maestra con amor said...

Thank you Rabbi for share.