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.
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Michael Barclay
Mar 10, 2022
VaYikra - To Answer the Call
This week’s Torah reading are the first chapters of the Book of Leviticus…
Michael Barclay
Mar 3, 2022
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...
Michael Barclay
Feb 25, 2022
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...
Michael Barclay
Feb 17, 2022
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...
Michael Barclay
Feb 11, 2022
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...
Michael Barclay
Feb 4, 2022
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.
Michael Barclay
Jan 28, 2022
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).
Michael Barclay
Jan 20, 2022
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 14, 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 6, 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
Dec 31, 2021
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 23, 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 17, 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 10, 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 3, 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
Nov 18, 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 12, 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 5, 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
Oct 28, 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)
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