Rabbi Michael Barclay

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    Shlach: Faith, Fear, and Spies
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • Jun 23

    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...
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • Jun 17

    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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    Torah Talk - Nasso: Fathers & Sons
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • Jun 10

    Torah Talk - 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
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • Jun 3

    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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    Memorial Day is a Jewish Holiday Too
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • May 27

    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. In response to that, 63....
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    A Big Mazal Tov to Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone!
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • May 20

    A Big Mazal Tov to Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone!

    It is the right, privilege, and moral obligation for political leaders of this nation to serve the citizens of the United States....
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    Emor: Ethical Leadership Through Service
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • May 13

    Emor: Ethical Leadership Through Service

    This week’s commentary is dedicated to the memory of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai...
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    Abortion: A Jewish Perspective on a Passionate Issue
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • May 12

    Abortion: A Jewish Perspective on a Passionate Issue

    With a subject like abortion, where people are easily controlled by their passions, it becomes easy to base our opinions on what we “feel”..
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    Social Justice Warriors Silent After Lufthansa Boots Over 100 Jews From Flight
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • May 10

    Social Justice Warriors Silent After Lufthansa Boots Over 100 Jews From Flight

    For those who still live in a world of pink unicorns and think that there is no longer mainstream hate and anti-Semitism, I suggest that....
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    Kedoshim: To Bring Holiness Into the World
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • May 6

    Kedoshim: To Bring Holiness Into the World

    Often called “the holiness code”, this week’s Torah reading is, in some ways, the very essence of Judaism.
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    Rabbi Barclay Torah Commentary in The Jewish Journal
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • Apr 29

    Rabbi Barclay Torah Commentary in The Jewish Journal

    And Aaron shall place lots upon the two he goats: one lot “For the Lord,” and the other lot, “For Azazel.” –Lev. 16:8
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    Shabbat HaGadol: A Time of Faith, Action, and Community
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • Apr 8

    Shabbat HaGadol: A Time of Faith, Action, and Community

    The Shabbat immediately preceding Passover is called “Shabbat HaGadol”, “the big Sabbath”.
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    Tazria: The Leprosy of Gossip
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • Apr 1

    Tazria: The Leprosy of Gossip

    “Life and Death are in the Hands of the Tongue” (Proverbs 18:21)
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    Shemini: We Are What We Eat
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • Mar 25

    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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    Purim – A Jewish Path for Addiction Recovery
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • Mar 15

    Purim – A Jewish Path for Addiction Recovery

    All the Festivals will be annulled in future time except for Purim” Midrash Mishlei 9:2
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    VaYikra - To Answer the Call
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • Mar 11

    VaYikra - To Answer the Call

    This week’s Torah reading are the first chapters of the Book of Leviticus…
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    Vayakhel: Building a Holy Community on Individual Effort
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • Feb 25

    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...
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    Ki Tisa: Stepping Towards Forgiveness
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • Feb 18

    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...
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    Tetzaveh: To Divine From the Heart
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • Feb 11

    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...
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    Terumah: How To Give a Gift
    Rabbi Michael Barclay
    • Feb 4

    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.
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    Rabbi Barclay is the Spiritual Leader of 

    Temple Ner Simcha

    Westlake Village, California

    ©2022 by Rabbi Michael Barclay