Bob Barocas, at The Blogs

Bob Barocas

Empowering the Next Generation

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...

May 5, 2022, 9:56 PM

Piles of Potential

The Gemara in Yevamot (62b) tells us that Rebbe Akiva lost 24,000 of his students to a devastating plague–his entire academy. The Jewish nation mourns the loss of these students to this day. Yet, after this tragedy, Rebbe Akiva...

Mar 15, 2022, 4:48 PM

The Fast of Esther: Taanit or Tzom?

In several ways, the Fast of Esther is an outlier of sorts. It was not one of the fast days instituted by the Prophets, and it does not correlate to one of the four aspects of exile. Furthermore, Rav Shlomo...

Dec 27, 2021, 4:24 AM

Okay COVID: Here We Go Again…

Many families all over the world are saying, “Here we go again.” Yes, another variant of COVID-19 is closing schools and daycare centers, and parents like me are scrambling to figure out how we are supposed to take care...

Dec 15, 2021, 9:40 PM

Four Aspects of Exile and 4 Fast Days

Rav Zev Leff teaches that there are four aspects of exile, and each of the minor fast days that deal with Chorban Bet HaMikdash (the destruction of the Holy Temple) correlate to one of them. The four aspects of exile...

Nov 24, 2021, 9:49 PM

Lighting Up the Darkness Within

When we light the Chanukah candles, we recite a special blessing thanking God for the miracles that happened to our ancestors "ba’yamim ha’hem ba’zman ha’zeh–in those days in this time.” Think about that for a moment: is this not...

About Me

Rachmiel David Barocas (affectionately known as “Reb Bob”) is the author of Legacy of Light: Revealing the Torah’s Eternal Relevance. He regularly gives a hashkafa shiur to the Edison Chabura, is a highly acclaimed speaker for MEOR’s Maimonides Leaders Fellowship, and writes for Chabad.org and The Times of Israel’s blog. He studied at Machon Yaakov in Jerusalem under Rav Beryl Gershenfeld and continued his learning at the Edison Chabura with Rav Reuven Billowitz. These foundational years shaped his Slobodka-style hashkafa and love for mussar. Whether delving into a sugya in Shas or a perush on Chumash, Reb Bob strives to unearth deeply inspiring and life-altering messages in everything he learns and passionately share them with others. He holds a Juris Doctorate (JD) from Rutgers Law School and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Rutgers University, where he graduated summa cum laude with Highest Departmental Honors in both of his majors (philosophy and political science). He works as a financial coach and lives in Highland Park, New Jersey with his wife and three boys.