Cantor Rockman joined the professional staff of Congregation B’nai Tikvah in July 2001 as its full-time Cantor. He assumed the additional role of Director of Education in 2018, and served that role through June, 2024.
Cantor Rockman considers this appointment as a dream-come true. From his earliest years, he has always been involved in Judaic studies and synagogue life. In fact, the Cantor’s father, Royal Rockman, retired after serving as the Cantor for 36 years at Temple Ohev Shalom in Colonia, NJ. Cantor Rockman attended yeshiva as a young boy and the Jewish Theological Seminary program while in high school. During his college days at Rutgers University, he prepared students for their B’nai Mitzvot and continued to do so at Congregation B’nai Tikvah. He most recently held the position of Assistant Principal of Religious Education at Temple Beth El in Somerset, NJ. To further hone his Cantorial skills, The Cantor now studies with Chazzan Leon Lissek, a retired Cantor from B’nai Amoona, a large St. Louis congregation. Cantor Rockman lives with his wife Stacey, their daughter, Bashe, and son, Rafi, in North Brunswick.
Cantor’s Corner
Seven reasons to observe Shabbat – Reason 4
Stop Feeling Like a Slave to Your Work If work has no end, then it becomes a form of enslavement. This is particularly true in an era when technology makes [...]
Seven reasons to observe Shabbat – Reason 3
To Connect to the Natural World. The origin story for Shabbat is found in Genesis 1-2 in which God creates the world in six days and then surveys the results—“God saw all [...]
Seven reasons to observe Shabbat – Reason 2
To Experience Personal Renewal It has become a commonplace observation that technology keeps us connected and “on call” at all hours of every day. Shabbat is a natural antidote to [...]
Seven reasons to observe Shabbat – Reason 1
To Connect with Others Though Shabbat affords amazing opportunities for individual rest and renewal, it is very much a communal experience. Many Shabbat prayers as well as the Shabbat Torah [...]
Shared Prayers of Hope & Healing
At a recent area clergy gathering we began to discuss some of the issues and challenges that we as faith leaders have confronted during this past year, a year [...]
Looking Back … and Ahead
Dear Friends, This past year has been difficult, painful; full of loss and strife. Throughout it has been my intention to remain engaged with you, my congregational family. Together we’ve [...]