Michael Franco

Kohelet Chapter 10: Practical Wisdom

In chapter 10, Kohelet takes on shades of Sefer Mishle -- Proverbs -- providing us with very practical life wisdom.

Kohelet Chapter 9: A Wholesome Life

In this chapter, Kohelet gives us a beautiful glimpse into his notion of a wholesome life of simple pleasures and honest work. We take the time in the beginning of the class to recap the end of chapter 8, which was cutoff from the previous recording.

Kohelet Chapter 8: Injustice and Theodicy

In this chapter, Kohelet discusses his thoughts on injustice and theodicy. My sincere apologies -- the audio is cut off about midway through.

Kohelet Chapter 7: Patience and Temperance

"A good name is better than fragrant oil, and the day of death than the day of birth." In this chapter, Kohelet shares his insights on how best to lead one's life, closing with an intriguing and ironic idea about the root of man's issues -- engaging in too much reasoning.

Yom Ha'Asmaut 2021: Israel: Embracing Life

In this podcast, we celebrate the essence of everything that Israel represents, drawing an interesting connection to Parashat Tazria'-Mesora'.

Kohelet Chapter 6: What is Worthwhile?

In this class, we delve into the question of what is worthwhile to do in life according to Kohelet. We end with some very profound ideas regarding the phenomenology of existence itself.

Passover 2021: The Heroism of God and Humanity

How do we respond when we bear witness to the greatest evils that humans are capable of? We turn our attention to the very best that humans have to offer.

Parashat Sav 2021: Gratitude

In this podcast, we draw the connections between the Korban Todah, or Thanksgiving offering, and the Korban Pesah, or Passover offering. We learn the importance of gratitude in a relationship with God and we share a way of employing practical tools to practice gratitude daily.

Kohelet Chapter 5: The True Path to Happiness

In this chapter, we notice the shift that Kohelet takes, beginning to discuss matters of general wisdom for the remainder of the book. In this class, we emphasize the path that Kohelet lays out towards a life of happiness, assessing which parts we can embrace and which parts we feel come up short.

Kohelet Chapter 4: Human Relationships

Human relationships take many forms, with human dynamics at the heart of so many of our experiences. Here, we delve into the dynamics that play such a strong role in our daily interactions, hearing Kohelet's philosophical take on the meaning or lack of meaning that emerges from these relationships.