Rabbi Michael Barclay
Shoftim: Pursuing True Justice
Have you ever wondered how it can be true that “two Jews equals three opinions, four rabbis, and five synagogues”?
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Rabbi Michael Barclay
Aug 5, 20213 min read
Elul: A Time to Prepare for Intimacy
On September 6th Jews around the world will begin observing the holiday of Rosh HaShanah and the Ten Days of Awe.
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Jul 29, 20214 min read
Eikev: Actions Lead to Consequences
Why don’t we always get what we want from God, and why does God even allow people to be in pain?
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Jul 23, 20214 min read
V’etchanan: Never Forget
A great deal of the Book of Deuteronomy is a recapitulation of the Hebrews’ journey into freedom through the speeches of Moses.
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Jul 15, 20214 min read
Tisha b’Av: Turning Darkness Into Light
This Saturday night begins the holy day of Tisha b’Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av…the saddest day in the Jewish calendar.
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Jul 8, 20214 min read
Matot/Masei: Our Word is Our Bond
Although there are 54 Torah portions, there are only 50 or 51 Shabbats per year, and that doesn’t count those Shabbats that have special...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Jul 2, 20215 min read
Pinchas, Passion, and a Hope for the Future
This week’s Torah reading of Pinchas (Num. 25:10-30:1) begins with a teaching about a value that is not only a requirement for Jewish.....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Jun 24, 20215 min read
Balak: Selling Curses and Buying Blessings
This week’s Torah portion of Balak (Num. 22:2-25:9) is in some ways one of the most fun and outrageous readings in the Torah, and at the...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Jun 17, 20213 min read
Chukat: Because I Say So
“This is the decree [chukat] of the Torah” (Numbers 19:2).
Isn’t it amazing how, as we get older, our parents seem to become wise?
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Jun 11, 20214 min read
Korah: True Leadership
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus, but a molder of consensus”.
Rabbi Michael Barclay
May 28, 20213 min read
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 ....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
May 27, 20213 min read
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
Rabbi Michael Barclay
May 12, 20215 min read
The Wilderness & The Wedding
Many of our Sages from RaMBaM to Rebbe Schneerson recommended viewing current events through a filter of understanding the Torah portion....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
May 7, 20216 min read
Behar/Bechukotai: Jewish Karma
The great Russian writer Vera Nazarian once said, “A boomerang returns back to the person who throws it”.
Rabbi Michael Barclay
May 6, 20216 min read
Behar/Bechukotai: Jewish Karma
The great Russian writer Vera Nazarian once said, “A boomerang returns back to the person who throws it”. This concept of “karma” ...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Apr 30, 20215 min read
Emor - Ethical Leadership Through Service
Our Torah reading this week finds us deep in the Book of Leviticus; and the portion is filled with instructions and prohibitions for the....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Apr 29, 20215 min read
Emor: Ethical Leadership Through Service
Our Torah reading this week finds us deep in the Book of Leviticus; and the portion is filled with instructions and prohibitions for the...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Apr 23, 20214 min read
Achrei/Mot: Don’t Worry, Be Happy!
This week’s Torah reading affects every Jew in their practice of Yom Kippur, and answers the question that I often receive of, “Rabbi, how..
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Apr 22, 20214 min read
Achrei/Mot: Don’t Worry, Be Happy!
This week’s Torah reading affects every Jew in their practice of Yom Kippur, and answers the question that I often receive of, “Rabbi, how..
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Apr 16, 20215 min read
Tazria-Metzora: The Leprosy of Gossip
“Life and Death are in the Hands of the Tongue” (Proverbs 18:21)
(This year, we have two portions this week: a “double portion”.
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