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Meet Rabbi Michael Barclay



Rabbi Michael Barclay will serve as our new interim rabbi for 2008/9 (5678/9).

I’d like to thank Larry Horowitz and Deborah Noble for their hard work on the newsletter and to thank each of you for the opportunity to serve as the spiritual leader of Shaarei Torah. As a rabbi, it is a great honor to be requested to serve a community; and both myself and my wife Allison are grateful for this privilege. As time progresses, I hope to get to know each of you, your passions, joys, and needs, as we learn and grow within our beautiful spiritual tradition together.
     I have constantly told people that I am the most blessed person that I know. I have an amazing wife, family, and friends, and the blessings from G-d continue to flow with this new opportunity at Shaarei Torah. My background is diverse, and will hopefully help serve each of you as individuals and as a community.
     As an adjunct Professor in the Department of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University, I have taught Judaism and Hebrew Scriptures, as well as Ethics and Kabbalah. I have a great love for our sacred texts and liturgy, and for exploring the text deeply in order to have a greater awareness and personal relationship with the words and meanings.
     Right after my Bar Mitzvah, there were Rabbis who chose to teach me our Jewish mystical tradition, and I have not only studied it for over 25 years, but taught it around the world. I have learned, experienced, and taught these traditions in both secular and synagogue settings as an integral part of Jewish liturgy, text, and holidays, in contrast to the current "pop Kabbalah" that is taught in so many places, both Jewish and non-Jewish. Each of our holidays has deep meanings that we often ignore… teachings that can affect our daily lives in profound ways. It is my hope that together, we will learn and share our own understandings of the text and holidays so that we can grow as individuals and as a community.
     I’ve also been blessed to spend many years with indigenous cultures; and find that the information and experiences I’ve had with these cultures only helps with an understanding of Judaism. I have taught “Cross-Cultural Mysticism and Meditation” around the country, and utilized the information about spiritual awareness from Judaism and other cultures as a “peak performance coach” with executives and athletes around the globe. Each of us has our own “tikkun”; a piece of repairing the world that only we can do; and I believe strongly that part of the job of a rabbi is to help each individual in finding and achieving their own tikkun through sharing and understanding the teachings of our Sages. Everything we do, even throwing a baseball or directing a film, is a “spiritual” pursuit, an opportunity to strengthen and deepen our relationships with others and with G-d.
     We will learn a lot about each other as time goes by, and many of my opinions and the teachings that I’ve shared can also be found in periodicals such as the Forward, the Jewish Journal, and other news-papers and magazines. For now, please feel free to contact me directly so that we can get to know each other over a meal or a cup of tea; and let me know what some of your goals are for this wonderful community. Adult education classes will start soon, and the topics will be current and meaningful. Our tradition has much to share; and it is my hope and prayer that we will all share together in the rich tradition that is Judaism.
     In Pirkei Avot, our Sages teach, “Make for yourself a teacher, acquire for yourself a friend.” Allison and I look forward to learning with and from each of you, and to becoming a community of teachers and dear friends.

     B’shalom,
     Rabbi Michael
 
Editor's note: Rabbi Barclay will be serving as interim rabbi for the coming year. His first drash for the Congregation, on the critical period between Shavuot and the High Holy Days—in other words, the summer—begins on p. 5 in this issue.



Upcoming Events
Events
CONGREGATION SHAAREI TORAH EVENTS
AUGUST 2008


SUNDAY, AUGUST 17

Bikkur Holim Committee Meeting has been cancelled.



THURSDAY, AUGUST 21 

10AM Seniors Meeting and Program.  Ginny Blitz presents a special program on Spain

Join our remarkable group of seniors for their meeting and program


7:30 PM Men’s Club Planning Meeting

All Men of the Congregation are urged to attend this meeting to continue to plan for the 2008/9 events.

Men’s Club raised more than $6000 last year and therefore and as an important arm of CST.

Your involvement is urged to help make this next year successful.




FRIDAY AUGUST 22 

7:30 PM Musical "Simcha Shabbat" - the special CST Musical Service in which we also celebrate all AUGUST  simchas - birthdays, anniversaries, and all special occasions.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23

9:30 AM. Saturday Morning Shabbat Services - Torah Reading at 11:00am


SUNDAY,, AUGUST 24

9:30am - CST Board of Trustee Retreat - Arcadia Police Department

7:30pm Los Angeles Jewish Symphony at John Ford Theater.

See Libby Sklamburg for tickets


THURSDAY AUGUST 28

6:30PM Folk Collection Concert at the Levitt Pavilion-Memorial Park (Behind the Senior Center )  in Pasadena


FRIDAY, AUGUST 29

7:30 PM Shabbat Services


SATURDAY, AUGUST 30

9:30AM Saturday Morning Shabbat Services  - Torah Reading at 11:00am



CONGREGATION SHAAREI TORAH EVENTS
SEPTEMBER 2008
 
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
Shabbat Services
Congregation Shaarei Torah
7:30 PM Friday Evening Shabbat Services
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Shabbat Services
Congregation Shaarei Torah
9:30 AM Saturday Morning Shabbat Services - Torah Reading at 10:15 AM

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
Movie Night
Congregation Shaarei Torah
7:30 PM Joinus foranice cream social followed by a movie - $5 donation requested
 
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 
Seniors Meeting and Program 
Congregation Shaarei Torah
11:00 AM Join our remarkable group of seniors for an interesting program. Meeting begins at 10:00 AM  
 
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
Shabbat Services
Congregation Shaarei Torah
7:30 PM Shabbat Services
 
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
Shabbat Services
Congregation Shaarei Torah
9:30 AM Saturday Morning Shabbat Services - Torah Reading at 10:15AM


SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
Special Men’s Club Breakfast and Program
Congregation Shaarei Torah
10:00 AM   Join us for a special program to welcome Shaarei Torah’s new spiritual leader, Rabbi Michael Barclay. Rabbi will be presenting "Hineni:  Achieving peak performance in work, athletics, relationships, and life through the art of being present." Eggs and Bagel Breakfast $6.  Reservations requested by Thursday, Sept 11th. Please call the synagogue office at 626-445-0180 to reserve.
 
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 19 
Shabbat Services
Congregation Shaarei Torah
7:30 PM Musical "Simcha Shabbat" - the special CST Musical Service in which we also celebrate all September simchas - birthdays, anniversaries, and all special occasions.


SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Slichot Services
Congregation Shaarei Torah
9:30 AM Saturday Morning - Torah Reading at 10:15 AM


THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 
Seniors Meeting and Program. 
Congregation Shaarei Torah
11:00 AM Join our remarkable group of seniors for an interesting program. Meeting begins at 10:00 AM  
 
 
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
Shabbat Services
Congregation Shaarei Torah
7:30 PM Shabbat Services
 
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
Shabbat Services
Congregation Shaarei Torah
9:30 AM Saturday Morning Shabbat Services - Torah Reading at 10:15 AM


MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
Erev Rosh Hashanah  Services
Congregation Shaarei Torah
7:30 PM  Erev Rosh Hashanah Services
 
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Rosh Hashanah Services
Congregation Shaarei Torah
9:00 AM Rosh Hashanah Services - Torah Service at 10:15 AM
 
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Tashlich Services
Congregation Shaarei Torah
1:30 PM at the LA Arboretum
 
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1 
Rosh Hashanah Services Day 2
Congregation Shaarei Torah
9:00 AM  Rosh Hashanah Services
 

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Information
Congregation Shaarei Torah
550 South 2nd Avenue
Arcadia, California 91006
www.shaareitorah.org
626.445.0810 (P)
626.445.5977 (F)



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