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![Memorial Day is a Jewish Holiday Too](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/81f50a_c272eb0bd51a44b6bff17ae02a05b08f~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/81f50a_c272eb0bd51a44b6bff17ae02a05b08f~mv2.webp)
Michael Barclay
May 29, 2023
Memorial Day is a Jewish Holiday Too
In the 1890s, Mark Twain wrote an article about how Jews did not serve in the military of the United States.
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![V’zot Ha’Berakhah: The Deeper Blessing of the Torah](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/81f50a_f1f5ac2c36484ca8b3402a9dad158bf9~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/81f50a_f1f5ac2c36484ca8b3402a9dad158bf9~mv2.webp)
Michael Barclay
Oct 14, 2022
V’zot Ha’Berakhah: The Deeper Blessing of the Torah
Never again did there arise in Israel a prophet like Moses...
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![Vayelech - Strength & Courage in the Face of Loss](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/81f50a_c67c4d9b47164467bc46223cb1a367ca~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/81f50a_c67c4d9b47164467bc46223cb1a367ca~mv2.webp)
Michael Barclay
Sep 30, 2022
Vayelech - Strength & Courage in the Face of Loss
Aware that he is about to die, Moses appoints Joshua as his successor in front of all the people.
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![Netzavim: Holy Thresholds](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/81f50a_d0337479c38348eaa0799690cbb01a8c~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/81f50a_d0337479c38348eaa0799690cbb01a8c~mv2.webp)
Michael Barclay
Sep 23, 2022
Netzavim: 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...
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![Ki Tavo - Honoring the Past and Entering the Future](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/81f50a_3ae206c1566c44368b817a0172c5ab0c~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/81f50a_3ae206c1566c44368b817a0172c5ab0c~mv2.webp)
Michael Barclay
Sep 16, 2022
Ki Tavo - Honoring the Past and Entering the Future
This week’s Torah portion of Ki Tavo (Deut. 26:1-29:8) teaches us how we are to enter the Promised Land....
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![Ki Teitzei - The Ethics of War](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/81f50a_4bdfb67263df4fd79f963926c91e3822~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/81f50a_4bdfb67263df4fd79f963926c91e3822~mv2.webp)
Michael Barclay
Sep 8, 2022
Ki Teitzei - The Ethics of War
Every Shavuot, we read from Tikkun Leil Shavuot, a holy text that includes among other readings the first and last lines of every Torah....
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![Shoftim - Pursuing True Justice](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/81f50a_457fe17ca7074f8d98eb51574832d765~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/81f50a_457fe17ca7074f8d98eb51574832d765~mv2.webp)
Michael Barclay
Sep 2, 2022
Shoftim - Pursuing True Justice
Have you ever wondered how it can be true that “two Jews equals three opinions, four rabbis, and five synagogues”?
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![Re’eh: The Supreme Coach](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/81f50a_a97fbd5194ea45888fe0162055d7110b~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/81f50a_a97fbd5194ea45888fe0162055d7110b~mv2.webp)
Michael Barclay
Aug 25, 2022
Re’eh: The Supreme Coach
There is an old saying in sports that there is a huge difference between watching the bullfight and being in the ring.
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![V’etchanan: Never Forget](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/81f50a_7614dcb761874bd8bb8e03b0de3cb2bc~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/81f50a_7614dcb761874bd8bb8e03b0de3cb2bc~mv2.webp)
Michael Barclay
Aug 11, 2022
V’etchanan: Never Forget
A great deal of the Book of Deuteronomy is a recapitulation of the Hebrews’ journey into freedom through the speeches of Moses.
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Michael Barclay
Aug 4, 2022
Devarim: Darkness Will Become Light
This week’s portion is the beginning of the Book of Deuteronomy, which is always read immediately prior to the holiday of Tisha B’Av…
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![Matot/Masei - Our Word is Our Bond](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/81f50a_10c1ab673aa649699a54ba8b083c76bc~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/81f50a_10c1ab673aa649699a54ba8b083c76bc~mv2.webp)
Michael Barclay
Jul 28, 2022
Matot/Masei - Our Word is Our Bond
As discussed earlier, although there are 54 Torah portions, there are only 50 or 51 Shabbats per year, and that doesn’t count those Shabbats
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![Pinchas, Passion, and a Hope for the Future](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/81f50a_c7febc53aa194184970688798538aefc~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/81f50a_c7febc53aa194184970688798538aefc~mv2.webp)
Michael Barclay
Jul 21, 2022
Pinchas, Passion, and a Hope for the Future
This week’s Torah reading of Pinchas (Num. 25:10-30:1) begins with a teaching about a value that is not only a requirement for Jewish....
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![Torah Talk - Balak: Selling Curses and Buying Blessings](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/81f50a_0e5209389b664eeab4ed1d50922819b1~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/81f50a_0e5209389b664eeab4ed1d50922819b1~mv2.webp)
Michael Barclay
Jul 14, 2022
Torah Talk - Balak: Selling Curses and Buying Blessings
This week’s Torah portion of Balak (Num. 22:2-25:9) is in some ways one of the most fun and outrageous readings in the Torah...
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![Jewish institutions must not give up their Jewish names](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/81f50a_3008d0349c08449587e1b10dca47e369~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/81f50a_3008d0349c08449587e1b10dca47e369~mv2.webp)
Michael Barclay
Jul 13, 2022
Jewish institutions must not give up their Jewish names
"Diversity is not about making everybody the same, but about creating a rainbow of different traditions and cultures".
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![Chukat: Because I Say So](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/81f50a_67907be0712045c1b76ad39cf668acb3~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/81f50a_67907be0712045c1b76ad39cf668acb3~mv2.webp)
Michael Barclay
Jul 7, 2022
Chukat: Because I Say So
“This is the decree [chukat] of the Torah” (Numbers 19:2).
Isn’t it amazing how, as we get older, our parents seem to become wise?
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![Korah: True Leadership](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/81f50a_ae41c284256d4a919d3a04754fefb1da~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/81f50a_ae41c284256d4a919d3a04754fefb1da~mv2.webp)
Michael Barclay
Jul 1, 2022
Korah: True Leadership
The following teaching is in memory and honor of the founding leaders of this nation.
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![Shlach: Faith, Fear, and Spies](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/81f50a_e073d6d239334c55a6df17d2c776dc78~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/81f50a_e073d6d239334c55a6df17d2c776dc78~mv2.webp)
Michael Barclay
Jun 23, 2022
Shlach: Faith, Fear, and Spies
I’ve always held the belief that if three or more diverse cultures have the same teaching, that teaching may be worthwhile and worth...
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![Beha'alotecha: The Power of Words...](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/81f50a_0e50141322ec4ab49fa39c0988efe3c8~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/81f50a_0e50141322ec4ab49fa39c0988efe3c8~mv2.webp)
Michael Barclay
Jun 16, 2022
Beha'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.
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![Nasso: Fathers & Sons](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/81f50a_6e1b8cadc712454da0ea8d44d625c5a3~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/81f50a_6e1b8cadc712454da0ea8d44d625c5a3~mv2.webp)
Michael Barclay
Jun 9, 2022
Nasso: Fathers & Sons
My 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 ...
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![Bamidbar and Shavuot: The Wilderness & The Wedding](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/81f50a_6b6cd11954864880b4e9c6d5ac6ce18a~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/81f50a_6b6cd11954864880b4e9c6d5ac6ce18a~mv2.webp)
Michael Barclay
Jun 2, 2022
Bamidbar and Shavuot: The Wilderness & The Wedding
Many of our Sages from RaMBaM to Rebbe Schneerson recommended viewing current events through a filter of understanding the Torah portion...
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