Bob Barocas, at The Blogs

May 8, 2026, 11:07 AM

What if the most important part of Shavuot was not the thunder, lightning, or even the giving of the Torah itself? What if it was the silence? We celebrate Shavuot as Zman Matan Torateinu, the Time of the Giving of...

Mar 11, 2026, 6:17 AM

Why a Golden Calf?

Why did the Jewish nation choose to make a Golden Calf, of all animals, as an intermediary? To properly answer this question, we need to examine Yechezkel (1:10). In these admittedly esoteric verses, Yechezkel discusses Hashem’s chariot and the...

Feb 24, 2026, 5:22 PM

Two Boot Prints in the Snow

On my walk to the Agudath of Highland Park/Edison a few days after the recent blizzard in New Jersey, the kind the Northeast hasn’t seen since the late 90s, everything was blanketed in snow. The world felt quieter, slower,...

Feb 17, 2026, 5:24 AM

What Kind of Sukkah are You?

Life is full of tests. Some of them we choose, but many of them choose us. Some tests are predictable while others come out of nowhere. The real question is not whether we'll fall — it’s what we do...

Feb 11, 2026, 5:23 AM

Birdhouses and Blowtorches: What’s Your Mission?

How do you know if you are living the life you were meant to live? It is one of the most haunting questions a person can ask. Not whether you are successful. Not whether you are admired. Not even whether...

Jan 29, 2026, 3:23 AM

Defeating the Seven-Headed Serpent (Then and Now)

There are moments in Torah learning that feel almost electric—when a sugya (section) of Gemara suddenly aligns with a parashah in Chumash, and two seemingly unrelated branches merge into a single, powerful trunk. In those moments, we do more...

Jan 28, 2026, 8:32 PM

Creating Worlds with Words

Words can create worlds. They alter perspectives, form relationships, change a moment—or an entire life. From the very first parashah of Sefer Bereshit, the Torah draws our attention to the creative force of speech. Again and again, the pasukim repeat...

Jan 27, 2026, 6:07 AM

The Power of Purim

If there is one theme permeating throughout Purim, it is achdut (unity). Think about it: you cannot fulfill the mitzvah of mishloach manot (sending yummy foods to friends) or matanot l’evyonim (giving money to the poor) without giving them...

Feb 6, 2023, 8:55 PM

Tu B’Shevat: Not Just a New Year for the Trees

In the Gemara in Rosh Hashanah (14a), we are told that once Tu B’Shevat has arrived, the majority of the rain for the year has fallen. Rashi explains that this is also when the sap–the life force that is...

Sep 7, 2022, 6:43 AM

The Message of the Shofar

For a large portion of the Jewish world, Rosh Hashanah involves praying in synagogue, feeling solemn, and (maybe) having thoughts about apples and honey. However, in reality, if you tap into the spiritual potential of Rosh Hashanah, it can...

About Me

Rabbi Bob Barocas (Rachmiel David Barocas) is an Orthodox rabbi, Torah educator, and writer based in Highland Park, New Jersey. He is the author of Legacy of Light: Revealing the Torah's Eternal Relevance. His writing focuses on hashkafa, mussar, and the application of timeless Torah ideas to modern life. Through his essays, he explores themes of personal growth, self-awareness, and the pursuit of a meaningful and purpose-driven life. In addition to his writing, Rabbi Barocas teaches Torah regularly, delivering a shiur for the Edison Chabura and speaking to MEOR's Maimonides Leaders Fellowship at Rutgers University. Rabbi Bob studied at Machon Yaakov in Jerusalem under Rabbi Beryl Gershenfeld and continued his learning at the Edison Chabura with Rabbi Reuven Billowitz. He received semicha from Rabbi Daniel Channen and holds a Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School as well as a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University where he graduated summa cum laude with highest honors in philosophy and political science.