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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.

Michael Barclay
Jan 20, 2022


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...

Michael Barclay
Jan 14, 2022


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....

Michael Barclay
Jan 6, 2022


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...

Michael Barclay
Dec 31, 2021


Shemot: 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 Barclay
Dec 23, 2021


Vayechi
When Jacob blesses his grandchildren Ephraim and Manasseh, he does not ask that God bless the boys, but rather that the “angel who redeemed”

Michael Barclay
Dec 17, 2021


Vayigash: The Ritual that Defines a Jew
The primary ritual in Judaism is the brit milah, the circumcision that has been part of our culture since Abraham (Gen 17)...

Michael Barclay
Dec 10, 2021


Happy 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 ...

Michael Barclay
Dec 3, 2021


Hidden in Plain Sight: The Secret to Happiness
“In this world, there are a few things that are unquestionably true; and often these “truths” are at the root of theologies.

Michael Barclay
Nov 26, 2021


Vayishlach - Get Small to Get Big!
This week’s Torah portion of Vayishlach (Gen. 32:4-36:43) contains the famous scene in which our ancestor Jacob wrestles with an angel ....

Michael Barclay
Nov 18, 2021


Vayetzei: Angels & Dreams
“A dream which is not interpreted is like a letter which is not read”
(Bavli, Berachot 55a)
This week’s Torah reading begins with ....

Michael Barclay
Nov 12, 2021


Toldot: Choosing to be Chosen
Toldot, the Torah reading this week is about the life of Isaac, the Patriarch who is typically talked about least, yet who is considered....

Michael Barclay
Nov 5, 2021


Chayei Sarah - Teach Us to Count Our Days (Psalm 90:12)
“Sarah’s lifetime was one hundred years, twenty years, and seven years; the years of Sarah’s life. Sarah died” (Genesis 23:1)

Michael Barclay
Oct 28, 2021


Vayera: The Blessings of Hospitality
This week’s Torah portion of Vayera (Gen. 18:1-22:24) has one of the most important teachings found in Judaism, or any authentic faith .....

Michael Barclay
Oct 22, 2021


Lech L’cha: The Power and Importance of Circumcision
This week’s reading of Parsha Lech L’cha (Gen. 12:1-17:27) relates the beginning of God’s dialogue with Avraham ....

Michael Barclay
Oct 14, 2021


Bereshit: The Kabbalah of Withdrawing in Order to Create
The seasons rotate, day and night follow each other, and the Torah ends and begins again with a new reading of what we study each year....

Michael Barclay
Oct 1, 2021


Sukkot and Beyond: Manifesting Our Dreams Into Reality
We all know that Sukkot, which began last Monday night is such an important holiday on so many levels. But many Jews (including Rabbis).....

Michael Barclay
Sep 24, 2021


Sukkot: Experiencing Wisdom Through Joy!
Someone once said, “Being Jewish is about being in love with Sukkot”. This is a truer statement than most 21st century Jews recognize .....

Michael Barclay
Sep 18, 2021


Vayelech - Strength & Courage in the Face of Loss
This commentary is written in memory of those who died twenty years ago on 9/11/2001, and in faith for a time of peace for us and those ....

Michael Barclay
Sep 10, 2021


Natzavim - Holy Thresholds
“You stand this day, all of you, before the LORD your God—your tribal heads, your elders and your officials, all the men of Israel, ........

Michael Barclay
Sep 3, 2021
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