Rabbi Michael Barclay
Bo: Divine Partnership
The story in this week’s portion is as recognizable as any in the entire Torah. Discussed at the Passover seder, it begins with Moses.....
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Rabbi Michael Barclay
Dec 31, 20216 min read
Vaera: Change is Coming, and It Will be a Blessing
I constantly remind people of the power of the teaching of both the RaMBaM and the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who said that we could look through...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Dec 23, 20214 min read
Shemot: The Power of Women
“But the midwives feared G-d, and did not as the King of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive”
---Ex. 1:17
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Dec 17, 20211 min read
Vayechi
When Jacob blesses his grandchildren Ephraim and Manasseh, he does not ask that God bless the boys, but rather that the “angel who redeemed”
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Dec 10, 20215 min read
Vayigash: The Ritual that Defines a Jew
The primary ritual in Judaism is the brit milah, the circumcision that has been part of our culture since Abraham (Gen 17)
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Dec 3, 20219 min read
Happy Hannukah!
Happy Hannukah, Channuka, or any way that you would like to spell it! As children we often think this is an important holiday for gift....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Nov 26, 20214 min read
Hidden in Plain Sight: The Secret to Happiness
“In this world, there are a few things that are unquestionably true; and often these “truths” are at the root of theologies.
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Nov 18, 20213 min read
Vayishlach - Get Small to Get Big!
This week’s Torah portion of Vayishlach (Gen. 32:4-36:43) contains the famous scene in which our ancestor Jacob wrestles with an angel.....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Nov 12, 20213 min read
Vayetzei: Angels & Dreams
This week’s Torah reading begins with the dramatic image of Jacob, having just departed for Haran, having one of the most famous dreams....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Nov 4, 20214 min read
Toldot: Choosing to be Chosen
Toldot, the Torah reading this week is about the life of Isaac, the Patriarch who is typically talked about least, yet who is considered....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Oct 29, 20214 min read
Chayei Sarah - Teach Us to Count Our Days (Psalm 90:12)
“Sarah’s lifetime was one hundred years, twenty years, and seven years; the years of Sarah’s life. Sarah died” (Genesis 23:1)
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Oct 21, 20214 min read
Vayera: The Blessings of Hospitality
This week’s Torah portion of Vayera (Gen. 18:1-22:24) has one of the most important teachings found in Judaism, or any authentic faith...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Oct 13, 20214 min read
Lech L’cha: The Power and Importance of Circumcision
This week’s reading of Parsha Lech L’cha (Gen. 12:1-17:27) relates the beginning of God’s dialogue with Avraham (whose name is still Avram..
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Sep 30, 20213 min read
Bereshit: The Kabbalah of Withdrawing in Order to Create
The seasons rotate, day and night follow each other, and the Torah ends and begins again with a new reading of what we study each year.
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Sep 23, 20214 min read
Sukkot and Beyond: Manifesting Our Dreams Into Reality
We all know that Sukkot, which began last Monday night is such an important holiday on so many levels. But many Jews (including Rabbis)...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Sep 17, 20214 min read
Sukkot: Experiencing Wisdom Through Joy!
Someone once said, “Being Jewish is about being in love with Sukkot”. This is a truer statement than most 21st century Jews recognize as...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Sep 9, 20214 min read
Vayelech - Strength & Courage in the Face of Loss
This commentary is written in memory of those who died twenty years ago on 9/11/2001, and in faith for a time of peace for us and those....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Sep 2, 20213 min read
Natzavim - Holy Thresholds
“You stand this day, all of you, before the LORD your God—your tribal heads, your elders and your officials, all the men of Israel, your ...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Aug 26, 20213 min read
Ki Tavo - Honoring the Past and Entering the Future
This week’s Torah portion of Ki Tavo (Deut. 26:1-29:8) teaches us how we are to enter the Promised Land, what to do, what we need to .....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Aug 20, 20216 min read
Ki Teitzei: The Ethics of War
Every Shavuot, we read from Tikkun Leil Shavuot, a holy text that includes among other readings the first and last lines of every Torah....
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