Rabbi Michael Barclay
Memorial Day Is a Jewish Holiday Too
In the 1890s, Mark Twain wrote an article about how Jews did not serve in the military of the United States. In response to that, 63 Jewish.
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Rabbi Michael Barclay
May 1, 20192 min read
Dear Rep. Ilhan Omar: Just Admit You Are a Blatant Anti-Semite Who Hates Israel and the Jews
Someone needs to teach Representative Omar of Minnesota the meaning of irony.
This freshman representative who spent so much time......
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Apr 19, 20193 min read
A Time for Freedom Through Action
On the evening of April 19th, Jews around the world will celebrate the holiday of Passover over a Seder, the ritualized meal that marks....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Apr 2, 20193 min read
An Open Letter to Rep. Adam Schiff: Stop Spreading Accusatory Gossip about Trump
Dear Mr. Schiff:
As a rabbi in your home state of California, thank you for your service, dedication, and passion in serving our nation.
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Mar 11, 20195 min read
The Politics of Purim: A Fitting Time for a ‘Jexodus'
On March 20, Jews around the world will celebrate the holiday of Purim, a time when we stopped “negotiating,” recognized the core values....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Nov 30, 20183 min read
Interfaith: God can always make light last in the midst of darkness
Between the recent massacre at the synagogue in Pittsburgh, the horrific shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill and the terrible fires in...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Oct 16, 20181 min read
Weekly Parsha: Lech Lecha
The addition of the letter Hei into Avraham’s name occurs at the end of this week’s Torah portion, but to understand it, we need to look ...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Aug 29, 20181 min read
Table for Five: Ki Tavo
The 13th-century mystic Rumi taught, “Mysteries are not meant to be solved. The eye goes blind when it only wants to see why.” This Torah..
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Apr 11, 20181 min read
TABLE FOR FIVE: Five Takes on the Weekly Parsha, Shemini
Whereas many traditions emphasize faith, Judaism focuses on behavior, on actions that lead to understanding. Not just words. Here, ...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Mar 15, 20184 min read
Whether a Jew or not, Passover is a good time to assess what we are slaves to
Most “religious” films about Passover have little to do with theological understandings of the holiday. (Think “Gods & Kings,” which one....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Dec 22, 20174 min read
The Choice to Do the Rite Thing
There is something truly divine about the wedding ceremony. A palpable feeling exists in the room — and especially under the chuppah — ...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Sep 5, 20174 min read
It’s time to put aside politics and unite as Jews
In a recent two-week period, I received more than a dozen calls from people who “had to speak with the rabbi.” Each caller was shul ....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Aug 8, 20174 min read
Parashat Eikev: God as the loving parent
Why don’t we always get what we want from God, and why does God even allow people to be in pain? Last week, we observed Tisha b’Av, ....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Feb 9, 20173 min read
The sun shines on us all equally
“In that hour the ministering angels wished to utter the song [of praise] before the Holy One, blessed be He, but He rebuked them, saying: .
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Dec 7, 20163 min read
Angels and Dreams
“A dream which is not interpreted is like a letter which is not read” (Bavli, Berachot 55a).
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Nov 16, 20164 min read
The irony of hate
Typically, I try to keep politics off of the pulpit. I believe the job of clergy is to help people deepen their relationship with God, ....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Jun 30, 20093 min read
A Fourth of Jew-ly Celebration
As a young child, I always loved the Fourth of July — the fireworks, the meat on the grill, the picnics and everyone seeming so grateful....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Oct 8, 20034 min read
The Lulav, the Etrog, the Medicine Pipe
For many years, I used to have long talks with Anselmo Valencia, the Chief of the Yaqui Indian Nation, about the similarities and ....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Oct 8, 19973 min read
‘If She Couldn’t Pay, She Couldn’t Pray’
As a Jew in his early 30s,I have had many different experiences of beauty and pain during the Ten Days of Awe, ranging from the first time..
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