Michael Franco

In this year's Rosh Hashanah, we aim our sights on the Akeda and the symbolism of the shofar, drawing inspiration from the shofar that survived Auschwitz.

In this class, we explore the stories from Masekhet Hagigah 14b, which shed light on the 4 rabbis who entered paradise, each with a separate fate.

In this podcast, we show that the linguistic connections between Moshe and the Blasphemer teach us an important lesson about the balance of identity.

In this podcast, we show how Aharon presents the solution to the double-bind of the ego.

In this final episode of the season, we open with some Zen stories, continue with some wisdom from the Tao te Ching, and close with the Zohar's recounting of the primordial events of Creation. We notice the intentional blurring of the lines between God and Mankind.

In this podcast, we explore the relationship between REM sleep, PTSD, and the events of Pesah.

In this podcast, we dive back into some Zen stories meant to impart an intuitive understanding of Reality. We close with a continuation of the Zohar's discussion of Creation and the mysterious relationship between the upper sefirot.

In this week's podcast, we analyze the phrase haddam hu hannafesh -- the blood is the life force. We expand into a discussion of reductionism and emergence, dualism and monism.

In this podcast, we explore the limits of words, the beauty of partnership, and the mystery of dualism.

In this podcast, we begin with some super-interesting accounts from individuals who survived jumping off the Golden Gate bridge. We transition to the Zohar with a surprising lesson about the dangers of both dualism and monism that we learn from the letter Saddi.

In this podcast, we compare the identity crisis in the Parasha to the identity crisis in America today.

In this podcast, we explore the role of comedy in Judaism and in Megillat Ester.

In this podcast, we begin with ideas of Creation as set forth in the Tao te Ching, drawing connections to how Creation is portrayed by the Zohar.

In this week's podcast, we try to show a clear trend within our parasha, in which many of the laws seem to be allusions to familiar stories from Genesis.

In this podcast, we open with the famous "snake simile" with its warnings about the spiritual path. We continue our readings of the Tao te Ching and the Zohar, highlighting the beautiful derasha revealed to Rabbi Shimon by Elijah the Prophet.

In this podcast, we begin with the opening of the Tao te Ching, noticing parallels to the Zohar. We then begin with the Zohar's cryptic commentary on Genesis and Creation.

In this week's podcast, we learn a deep lesson about overcoming fear. God is the master psychologist for Bene Yisrael and the results are clear and powerful.

In this podcast, we begin an in-depth study of the Zohar's introduction, delving into the divine creation story of Genesis.

In this podcast, we talk about the psychology of names and the mystery contained within God's names in this week's Parasha.

In this week's podcast, we explore the question: is it possible to prove that the Torah is Divine? We take a lesson from the story of Yoseph to answer this question.

In this episode, the season finale, we begin with some expansive quotes from the great Walt Whitman, continuing with a discussion of embodying peace as set forth by Thich Nhat Hanh. We dedicate the rest of the class to the mystical view of learning Torah.

In this episode, we share some of the works of the late great Thich Nhat Hanh about "Being Peace". We devote the second half of the episode to some closing remarks about the Kabbalistic mystical significance of eating and drinking.

In this episode, we discuss various ways of experiencing the mystical notion of "having arrived," from Zen Koans to analogies to music to Kabbalistic ideas regarding the human condition.

In this class, we focus on the Taoist philosophical school, which emphasizes "acting without acting," using cleverness rather than effort. We close with a continuation of our discussions of Kabbalah and redemption of Divine sparks.

In this episode, we explore Kohelet's thoughts on wisdom and its virtues, as well as its shortcomings. We close with Kohelet's thoughts about wisdom and legacy.

In this week's podcast, we compare two stories within the Parasha and derive a critical lesson from the life of Yaakob.

In this episode, we begin with a cryptic quote, transitioning to a discussion on Zen Koans and their function. We close with the Kabbalistic ideas on equanimity and some issues with ascetic practice.

In this episode, we discuss some of the (paradoxical) Eastern ways of looking at spiritual development, along with Kabbalistic models of spiritual growth.

In this episode, we begin with some Eastern stories and we continue discussing how the various schools of Kabbalah view the practice of the misvot.

In this class, we introduce the book of Kohelet and its author. We use a variety of sources to reflect on this author's unique perspective. 

In this podcast, we compare and contrast enlightenment as seen from an Eastern perspective and the love story told by Kabbalah. We introduce some of the schools of Kabbalah and how they view performance of the misvot.

In this podcast, we explore the radio silence experienced by Noah after leaving the Tebah, driving this righteous man to alcoholism. We notice that silence can be re-framed in a positive way if we learn how to listen.

In this class, we introduce the importance of mysticism not as a religious pursuit per se, but as a form of psychotherapy or ophthalmology. We recap some of the ideas from last year's class series and expand on these concepts.

In this week's podcast, we explore some intriguing cases from the writings of famous neurologist Oliver Sacks. We show that music is a fundamental part of the human experience and we connect this with the importance of the song of Haazinu.

In this podcast, we introduce some interesting differences between the psychology of men and women. We show that this gap can be compared, LEHAVDIL, with the gap between humankind and the Almighty.

In this podcast, we notice the tension between some very compassionate misvot in the parasha and their more harsh counterparts. We look to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for wisdom to resolve this tension.

In this week's podcast, we take on a new understanding of the purpose of the agricultural biblical holidays, showing how this leads to a new time-consciousness for the nation of Israel.

In this podcast, we explore the concept of grace as it relates to the exodus and a return to a state of childlike wonder.

In this podcast, we begin with some quotes about the experience of reincarnation. We then conclude our discussion on the very unique approach of Rabbi Abraham Abulafia and his prophetic kabbalah.

In this week's podcast, we ask the question of what exactly causes the malady of Saraat based on the examples given throughout Tanakh. Based on this, we learn an important lesson about codependency and the psychology of boundary setting.

In this class, we continue our discussion of Rabbi Abraham Abulafia and his unique approach towards achieving the mystical prophetic state.

In this class, we continue to explore throne mysticism and transition into the unique and intriguing approach of Rabbi Abraham Abulafia.

In this week's podcast, we learn from a turning point in the great career of tennis legend Andre Agassi. We see how this connects to the sacrificial ceremony and that we have many opportunities in our lives today to practice these lessons about how to spur positive change.

In this class, we enter the realm of prophetic Kabbalah, full of its many mysteries and secrets. Enjoy!

In this class, we begin by exploring the concept of grace as it appears in the Eastern traditions. We transition into a discussion of a kabbalistic view of grace and how the saddik is called upon to be a bridge to the spirit world.

In this class, we begin with some excerpts from the late great Thich Naht Hanh and from the Tao te Ching. We close off our discussion of Addressing Divine needs by exploring some very interesting rabbinic statements and Talmudic Aggadoth.

In this week's podcast, we connect the events unfolding in Ukraine to the underlying theme in our parasha. We learn important lessons from Gary Chapman's The Five Love Languages.

In this class, we begin with some quotes from the Tao te Ching and other Taoist texts. We compare this way of thinking with many of the Kabbalistic texts discussing humans playing a key role in addressing God's "needs."

This President's weekend, we connect the parasha to some remarkable historical facts about the very beginnings of life in America.

In this class, we conclude our discussion of mystical intimacy, touching on popular ideas like love of God, the apparent gap between us and God, and "En od milevado" -- there is none but God. We close with a riveting account by John Blofeld on his experience taking the psychedelic compound Mescaline.

In this class, we begin to discuss the different approaches towards relating to infinity in a more intimate fashion. We learn that some seek a complete merging with the Divine, while others are content in maintaining separateness. The key to it all, it seems, is opening oneself to the love of God.