Michael Barclay
Shemini: We Are What We Eat
I once heard an eager student ask Rabbi Ronnie Serr how he should go about becoming more observant. Ronnie looked at him and gave him the...
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Michael Barclay
- Apr 2, 2021
Passover: The Marriage Beyond the Wedding
With the anticipated opening up of businesses in California, I am gratefully getting a plethora of calls from young couples who have been...
Michael Barclay
- Mar 26, 2021
Tzav - Commandments, Pogroms, Passover, & Giving
In 1144 in Norwich, England the first of the ancient blood libels took place: a horror against Jews that has been perpetuated for almost...
Michael Barclay
- Mar 19, 2021
VaYikra - To Answer the Call
This week’s Torah reading are the first chapters of the Book of Leviticus…but that’s not the name of the book! It is in the actual name...
Michael Barclay
- Mar 12, 2021
Vayakhel/Pekudei: 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 Barclay
- Mar 5, 2021
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...
Michael Barclay
- Feb 25, 2021
Purim - A Jewish Path for Addiction Recovery
“All the Festivals will be annulled in future time except for Purim” Midrash Mishlei 9:2 What a seemingly strange comment we find above...
Michael Barclay
- Feb 19, 2021
Shabbat Zachor - The Real War
This Shabbat is a “special” Shabbat called Shabbat Zachor, in which we recount the tale of Amalek (the leader of a nation of enemies of...
Michael Barclay
- Feb 12, 2021
Mishpatim - Surrendering to Our True Selves
This teaching is in honor and in memory of Avi Gross-Schaefer z”l, may his memory be a blessing and may his family always be comforted...
Michael Barclay
- Feb 4, 2021
Yitro - The Real Tzaddikim Hidden in plain Sight
There is a story that there was once a successful businessman who was part of and a large contributor to the community of the Baal Shem...
Michael Barclay
- Jan 29, 2021
Beshalach - Peace & Respect over Victory & Destruction
The Torah portion this week has so many teachings and powerful images that it is difficult to discuss just one. This is the reading that...
Michael Barclay
- Jan 22, 2021
Bo – Ivri Anochi! I am a Jew!
God’s actions are often inexplicable, but in this week’s Torah reading of “Bo” (Ex. 10:1-13:16) we see Divine actions that can be...
Michael Barclay
- Jan 15, 2021
Vaera – Learning to Be True to Our Jewish Souls
This week’s Torah reading is part of the famous story of the Ten Plagues that is recited during the Passover Seder, and includes the...
Michael Barclay
- Jan 8, 2021
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) begins...
Michael Barclay
- Dec 18, 2020
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) is...
Michael Barclay
- Dec 10, 2020
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
- Nov 25, 2020
The Jewish Holiday of Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving! Although now considered a secular holiday, it was originally a religious celebration, and the concept of...
Michael Barclay
- Nov 20, 2020
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...
Michael Barclay
- Oct 26, 2020
Should Jews Celebrate Halloween?
Chevre 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...
Michael Barclay
- Oct 23, 2020
Torah Talk – Noah the Designated Driver
“Noah was a righteous man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God”
Genesis 6:9
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