Rabbi Michael Barclay
Emor: Ethical Leadership Through Service
This week’s commentary is dedicated to the memory of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai...
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Rabbi Michael Barclay
May 11, 20227 min read
Abortion: A Jewish Perspective on a Passionate Issue
With a subject like abortion, where people are easily controlled by their passions, it becomes easy to base our opinions on what we “feel”..
Rabbi Michael Barclay
May 5, 20223 min read
Kedoshim: To Bring Holiness Into the World
Often called “the holiness code”, this week’s Torah reading is, in some ways, the very essence of Judaism.
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Apr 28, 20222 min read
Rabbi Barclay Torah Commentary in The Jewish Journal
And Aaron shall place lots upon the two he goats: one lot “For the Lord,” and the other lot, “For Azazel.”
–Lev. 16:8
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Apr 14, 20224 min read
A Holy Passover
As we prepare for the Passover Seder, it is easy to learn so many hidden secrets and Kabbalistic understandings that we lose track of....
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Apr 7, 20224 min read
Shabbat HaGadol: A Time of Faith, Action, and Community
The Shabbat immediately preceding Passover is called “Shabbat HaGadol”, “the big Sabbath”.
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Mar 31, 20225 min read
Tazria: The Leprosy of Gossip
“Life and Death are in the Hands of the Tongue” (Proverbs 18:21)
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Mar 24, 20226 min read
Shemini: We Are What We Eat
I once heard an eager student ask Rabbi Ronnie Serr how he should go about becoming more observant.
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Mar 15, 20228 min read
Purim – A Jewish Path for Addiction Recovery
All the Festivals will be annulled in future time except for Purim” Midrash Mishlei 9:2
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Mar 10, 20223 min read
VaYikra - To Answer the Call
This week’s Torah reading are the first chapters of the Book of Leviticus…
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Mar 3, 20225 min read
Pekudei: Eternal Change Through Physical Shifts
In this final reading in the Book of Exodus, there are two important biblical concepts that are as important today as they were over 3000...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Feb 25, 20225 min read
Vayakhel: Building a Holy Community on Individual Effort
“Do not regard anyone with contempt, and do not reject anything, for there is no man who does not have his hour and nothing which does...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Feb 17, 20225 min read
Ki Tisa: Stepping Towards Forgiveness
Idolatry. Sexual immorality. Murder. The description of the events of the Golden Calf in this week’s portion sound like the outline for...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Feb 11, 20223 min read
Tetzaveh: To Divine From the Heart
The Urim and Thummim are something that is rarely discussed in the Reform Jewish world, although they have great importance both...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Feb 4, 20224 min read
Terumah: How To Give a Gift
The first two lines of this Torah reading teach a valuable lesson we all need to remember in personal relationships: how to give a gift.
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Jan 28, 20226 min read
Mishpatim: Surrendering to Our True Selves
In the “Ahavat Olam” prayer chanted before the recitation of the Shema, we thank God for “laws and statutes” (chukim u’mishpatim).
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Jan 20, 20224 min read
Yitro: The Ultimate Wedding
“I am my Beloved’s, and my Beloved is mine” ---Song of Songs 6:3
For months and sometimes even years we prepare for our wedding day.
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Jan 14, 20224 min read
B’Shalach: To Seek Not Victory, But Peace
This week’s Torah portion contains one of the most powerful, and ethically challenging teachings in the Torah as the Hebrews cross...
Rabbi Michael Barclay
Jan 6, 20223 min read
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.....
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...
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