Michael Barclay5 days agoKorah: True Leadership The following teaching is in memory and honor of the founding leaders of this nation.
Michael BarclayJun 23Shlach: Faith, Fear, and SpiesI’ve always held the belief that if three or more diverse cultures have the same teaching, that teaching may be worthwhile and worth...
Michael BarclayJun 17Beha'alotecha: The Power of Words...Wherever we go in today’s society, we are bombarded by ads about what we should and should not be putting in our mouths.
Michael BarclayJun 10Nasso: Fathers & SonsMy life changed when my sons were born. When I heard the mohel call their names, I heard myself called as the father to sons rather than ...
Michael BarclayJun 3Bamidbar and Shavuot: The Wilderness & The WeddingMany of our Sages from RaMBaM to Rebbe Schneerson recommended viewing current events through a filter of understanding the Torah portion...
Michael BarclayMay 27Memorial Day is a Jewish Holiday TooIn 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....
Michael BarclayMay 20Behar: Resting for SuccessThis week’s Torah portion of Behar (Lev. 25:1-26:2) focuses almost entirely on the importance of the Sabbath.
Michael BarclayMay 13Emor: Ethical Leadership Through ServiceThis week’s commentary is dedicated to the memory of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai...
Michael BarclayMay 6Kedoshim: To Bring Holiness Into the WorldOften called “the holiness code”, this week’s Torah reading is, in some ways, the very essence of Judaism.
Michael BarclayApr 29Rabbi Barclay Torah Commentary in The Jewish JournalAnd Aaron shall place lots upon the two he goats: one lot “For the Lord,” and the other lot, “For Azazel.” –Lev. 16:8
Michael BarclayApr 22Achrei/Mot: Don’t Worry, Be Happy!Joy is a Jewish theological imperative, and as we conclude the Passover holiday and count the days until Shavuot, it is so, so important...
Michael BarclayApr 15A Holy PassoverAs we prepare for the Passover Seder, it is easy to learn so many hidden secrets and Kabbalistic understandings that we lose track of...
Michael BarclayApr 8Shabbat HaGadol: A Time of Faith, Action, and CommunityThe Shabbat immediately preceding Passover is called “Shabbat HaGadol”, “the big Sabbath”.
Michael BarclayApr 1Tazria: The Leprosy of Gossip“Life and Death are in the Hands of the Tongue” (Proverbs 18:21)
Michael BarclayMar 25Shemini: We Are What We EatI once heard an eager student ask Rabbi Ronnie Serr how he should go about becoming more observant.
Michael BarclayMar 11VaYikra - To Answer the CallThis week’s Torah reading are the first chapters of the Book of Leviticus…
Michael BarclayMar 4Pekudei: Eternal Change Through Physical ShiftsIn this final reading in the Book of Exodus, there are two important biblical concepts that are as important today as they were over 3000...
Michael BarclayFeb 25Vayakhel: 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...
Michael BarclayFeb 18Ki Tisa: Stepping Towards ForgivenessIdolatry. Sexual immorality. Murder. The description of the events of the Golden Calf in this week’s portion sound like the outline for...
Michael BarclayFeb 11Tetzaveh: To Divine From the HeartThe Urim and Thummim are something that is rarely discussed in the Reform Jewish world, although they have great importance both...