Rabbi Michael Barclay
Shemot – Act With Kindness and Courage in All Times
This week’s Torah portion, entitled “Shemot” (Meaning “Names” as it starts out with the names of the Hebrews who were in Egypt)....
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Rabbi Michael Barclay
Dec 18, 20205 min read
Mikeitz - A Dream Uninterpreted is like a Letter left Unopened
This week’s Torah portion of Mikeitz is special on so many levels, not the least of which is that it nearly always (98% of the time)....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Dec 10, 20207 min read
Hanukkah Then and Now: A Fight for Religious Liberty
George Santayana famously said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”, and it seems, as we approach the holiday...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Nov 25, 20204 min read
The Jewish Holiday of Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving! Although now considered a secular holiday, it was originally a religious celebration, and the concept of...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Nov 20, 20203 min read
Toldot - Teach Our Children Well
As I am the father of twin sons, this week’s Torah portion of Toldot, where we learn of the birth of twins Jacob and Esau, has a special....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Oct 26, 20206 min read
Should Jews Celebrate Halloween?
As we all know, these are challenging times on many levels. On the one hand, it is difficult for people to stay connected to any.....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Oct 15, 20204 min read
Bereshit: Beginning Again
It happens every year. People come to services for Rosh HaShana, and remember how meaningful Judaism can be in their lives.
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Aug 17, 20203 min read
Is Kamala Harris an Anti-Religion Candidate?
There is a battle going on for the soul of this nation. Although protected by the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, local and....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Aug 11, 20203 min read
One Question Kamala Must Answer: Do You Stand with Israel or With the Anti-Semitic BLM and BDS?
Sen. Kamala Harris is now the Democratic nominee for vice president, which effectively means that, given Joe Biden’s declining mental ...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Aug 7, 20204 min read
All People of Faith Must Band Together and Support Rob McCoy
Over 2,000 years ago, the great Rabbi Hillel said, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I?
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Aug 7, 20205 min read
I'm Boycotting Professional Sports Leagues That Endorse Black Lives Matter, And You Should, Too
Athletics has always been the great equalizer, the playing field where human beings could contend with their strength, mind, and spirits....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Jul 29, 20206 min read
Why Are We Suffering and What Can We Do?
If a person sees that suffering befalls him, let him examine his deeds (Bavli Berachot 5a)
Your pain is the breaking of the shell that....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Jul 24, 20203 min read
Rabbi Calls for Baseball Boycott Until MLB Disengages from Hate-Filled Politics of BLM
For most of my life, I have agreed with Roger Hornsby, who said that when there is no baseball, he “stares out the window and waits for ...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Jul 14, 20205 min read
Where Are the Clergy of Courage?
In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached that the church is “not the master or the servant if the state, but rather the conscience of ..
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Jun 7, 20206 min read
Racism Is a Spiritual Issue, and All Lives Matter
Black lives do matter. White lives matter. Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and atheists’ lives matter, as do the lives of both..
Rabbi Michael Barclay
May 20, 20205 min read
The COVID-19 'Science' Is Starting to Scare Me
As a rabbi, I have always looked at patterns and historical repetitions, and I have to admit… I am starting to get truly frightened...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Apr 24, 20203 min read
We Should Emulate the Righteous Actions Casino Owners and Pull Together in These Tough Times
In these challenging times, we need to make an extra effort to act righteously, as well as publicly appreciate those who are demonstrating..
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Apr 20, 20206 min read
Why Are Golf Courses and Car Washes Essential in Ventura County But Not Religious Gatherings?
There is a tradition within Judaism that all actions in the world can be viewed through the lens of the Torah reading of the week.
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Apr 8, 20206 min read
Passover in the Time of COVID-19
On Wednesday night, Jews (and many non-Jews) will begin the celebration of Passover with the ritual meal known as a Seder, ..
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Mar 14, 20205 min read
Purell for the Soul
As a Rabbi in California, I am surrounded by houses of worship closing their doors in fear of COVID-19, but our synagogue is continuing to..
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