Michael Barclay3 days agoEmor: 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 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...
Michael BarclayFeb 4Terumah: How To Give a GiftThe first two lines of this Torah reading teach a valuable lesson we all need to remember in personal relationships: how to give a gift.
Michael BarclayJan 28Mishpatim: Surrendering to Our True SelvesIn the “Ahavat Olam” prayer chanted before the recitation of the Shema, we thank God for “laws and statutes” (chukim u’mishpatim).
Michael BarclayJan 21Yitro: 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.
Michael BarclayJan 7Bo: Divine PartnershipThe story in this week’s portion is as recognizable as any in the entire Torah. Discussed at the Passover seder, it begins with Moses....
Michael BarclayDec 31, 2021Vaera: Change is Coming, and It Will be a BlessingI constantly remind people of the power of the teaching of both the RaMBaM and the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who said that we could look through...
Michael BarclayDec 23, 2021Shemot: 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
Michael BarclayDec 17, 2021VayechiWhen Jacob blesses his grandchildren Ephraim and Manasseh, he does not ask that God bless the boys, but rather that the “angel who redeemed”
Michael BarclayDec 3, 2021Happy 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 ...