Michael Franco

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Lecture series covering various Judaic topics with emphasis on analysis of the Torah

Michael Franco


    • Sep 18, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 35m AVG DURATION
    • 183 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Michael Franco

    Rosh Hashanah 2023: Beyond Covenant

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2023 9:33


    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.

    The 4 Who Entered Paradise: A Study of Mysticism and Psychosis

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2023 73:44


    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.

    Parashat Emor 2023: In Between

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2023 6:00


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

    Parashat Ahare Mot-Kedoshim: Double Bind of the Ego

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2023 7:14


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

    Spiritual Psychotherapy Episode 17: God and Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2023 71:09


    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.

    god zen mankind tao ching zohar spiritual psychotherapy
    Pesah 2023: A Tale Told by REM Sleep

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2023 6:35


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

    Spiritual Psychotherapy Episode 16: You're It

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2023 62:17


    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.

    reality zen zohar spiritual psychotherapy
    Parashat Vayikra 2023: Reductionism and Emergence

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2023 5:55


    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.

    emergence reductionism parashat vayikra
    Spiritual Psychotherapy Episode 15: Mysterious Two that is One

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2023 58:56


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

    mysterious spiritual psychotherapy
    Spiritual Psychotherapy Episode 14: Near Death Experiences

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2023 59:20


    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.

    Parashat Ki Tissa 2023: Identity Crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2023 7:03


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

    Purim 2023: Comedy within Tragedy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2023 5:22


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

    Spiritual Psychotherapy Episode 13: Alphabet Soup

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2023 62:02


    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.

    tao ching zohar alphabet soup spiritual psychotherapy
    Parashat Mishpatim 2023: The Untold Story Behind the Law

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2023 8:17


    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.

    Spiritual Psychotherapy Episode 12: Zohar Part 3: The Singularity

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2023 66:33


    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.

    Spiritual Psychotherapy Episode 11: Zohar Part 2: Genesis

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2023 68:10


    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.

    tao ching zohar spiritual psychotherapy
    Parashat Beshallah 2023: How to Overcome Fear

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2023 5:04


    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.

    Spiritual Psychotherapy Episode 10: Zohar Part 1: Introduction

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2023 62:12


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

    zohar spiritual psychotherapy
    Parashat Shemot 2023: The Secret Name of God

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2023 7:26


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

    Parashat Vayigash 2022: The Divinity of the Torah

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2022 4:58


    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.

    Spiritual Psychotherapy Episode 9: I Contain Multitudes

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2022 65:47


    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.

    Spiritual Psychotherapy Episode 8: Being Peace

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2022 66:10


    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.

    peace thich nhat hanh kabbalistic being peace spiritual psychotherapy
    Spiritual Psychotherapy Episode 7: I Have Arrived

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2022 68:18


    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.

    arrived kabbalistic zen koans spiritual psychotherapy
    Spiritual Psychotherapy Episode 6: The Easy Way in

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2022 68:45


    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.

    divine easy ways kabbalah taoist spiritual psychotherapy
    Kohelet Chapter 2: Wisdom and Folly

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2022 75:16


    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.

    Parashat Vayese 2022: Be the Ladder

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2022 5:07


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

    Spiritual Psychotherapy Episode 5: Koans and Unraveling Egoic Complexes

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2022 69:05


    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.

    unraveling complexes kabbalistic koans egoic zen koans spiritual psychotherapy
    Spiritual Psychotherapy Episode 4: The Paradox of Spiritual Growth

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2022 66:42


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

    Spiritual Psychotherapy Episode 3: Empty Your Cup

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2022 60:16


    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.

    kabbalah empty your cup spiritual psychotherapy
    Kohelet Class 1 2022: Asking the Big Questions

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2022 77:18


    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. 

    Spiritual Psychotherapy Episode 2: Enlightenment and Divine Relationship

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2022 60:16


    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.

    Parashat Noah 2022: The Silent Pull of God

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2022 5:21


    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.

    Spiritual Psychotherapy Class 1: Introduction and Spiritual Ophthalmology

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2022 59:57


    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.

    class ophthalmology spiritual psychotherapy
    Parashat Haazinu 2022: Musicophilia

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2022 6:53


    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.

    Rosh HaShanah 2022: Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2022 7:46


    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.

    Parashat Ki Tese 2022: Compassionate Justice

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2022 6:50


    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.

    Parashat Emor 2022: A New Kind of Time

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2022 9:44


    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.

    Passover 2022: Amazing Grace

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2022 6:44


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

    Rationalism vs. Mysticism Episode 18: Prophetic Kabbalah Part 4: Conclusion

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2022 63:37


    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.

    Parashat Tazria 2022: Setting Boundaries

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2022 8:43


    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.

    Rationalism vs. Mysticism Episode 17: Prophetic Kabbalah Part 3: Rabbi Abraham Abulafia

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2022 61:01


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

    Rationalism vs. Mysticism Episode 16: Prophetic Kabbalah Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2022 61:25


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

    Parashat Sav 2022: Andre Agassi, Sacrifices, and How to Change

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2022 7:04


    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.

    Rationalism vs. Mysticism Episode 15: Kabbalah Part 8: Prophetic Kabbalah

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2022 62:08


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

    Rationalism vs. Mysticism Episode 14: Kabbalah Part 7: Drawing Down Divine Grace

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2022 70:39


    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.

    Rationalism vs. Mysticism Episode 13: Kabbalah Part 6: Addressing God's ”Needs” Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2022 62:57


    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.

    Parashat Vayakhel 2022: My Heart is with the Ukrainian People

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2022 8:13


    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.

    Rationalism vs. Mysticism Episode 12: Kabbalah Part 5: Taoism vs. Addressing Divine Needs

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2022 65:30


    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."

    Parashat Ki Tissa 2022:The Covenantal American Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2022 11:51


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

    Rationalism vs. Mysticism Episode 11: Kabbalah Part 4: Mystical Intimacy and Mescaline

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2022 72:45


    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.

    Rationalism vs. Mysticism Episode 10: Kabbalah Part 3: Mystical Intimacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2022 66:13


    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.

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