Michael Franco

Passover 2020: The Meaning of Freedom in the Era of Coronavirus

In this week's class, we explore the text of Parashat Beshallah, noticing the lessons on freedom that emerge. These lessons are of the utmost importance in the era of Coronavirus.

The Symbolism of Hames: A Journey through Archaeology, Psychology, and Torah

In this class, we utilize a variety of lenses to analyze the symbolism of Hames. With each perspective comes a new layer of meaning that enhances the meaning of this profound misvah.

Between Samuel and Exodus: The Leader God Needs

In this class, we explore the many literary links between Samuel and Exodus, noticing the invaluable lessons on leadership and how and when it is appropriate to surrender to the flow of life.

Passover 2020: Part I: I am God: The God who Hears our Cries

In this week's class, we begin with the overwhelming display of God revealing His name to the world, giving an insight into the Torah being "of another order" compared to other works of literature. We discuss the symbolism of the ten plagues and close with the symbolism of the signs given to Moses.

 

A	וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה; וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו, אֲנִי יְהוָה.
B	וָאֵרָא, אֶל-אַבְרָהָם אֶל-יִצְחָק וְאֶל-יַעֲקֹב--בְּאֵל שַׁדָּי; וּשְׁמִי יְהוָה, לֹא נוֹדַעְתִּי לָהֶם.
C	וְגַם הֲקִמֹתִי אֶת-בְּרִיתִי אִתָּם, לָתֵת לָהֶם אֶת-אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן--אֵת אֶרֶץ מְגֻרֵיהֶם, אֲשֶׁר-גָּרוּ בָהּ.
D	וְגַם אֲנִי שָׁמַעְתִּי, אֶת-נַאֲקַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲשֶׁר מִצְרַיִם, מַעֲבִדִים אֹתָם; וָאֶזְכֹּר, אֶת-בְּרִיתִי.
X	לָכֵן אֱמֹר לִבְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲנִי יְהוָה
D’	וְהוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מִתַּחַת סִבְלֹת מִצְרַיִם, וְהִצַּלְתִּי אֶתְכֶם מֵעֲבֹדָתָם; וְגָאַלְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בִּזְרוֹעַ נְטוּיָה, וּבִשְׁפָטִים גְּדֹלִים. וְלָקַחְתִּי אֶתְכֶם לִי לְעָם, וְהָיִיתִי לָכֶם לֵאלֹהִים; וִידַעְתֶּם, כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, הַמּוֹצִיא אֶתְכֶם, מִתַּחַת סִבְלוֹת מִצְרָיִם
C’	וְהֵבֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ
B’	אֲשֶׁר נָשָׂאתִי אֶת-יָדִי, לָתֵת אֹתָהּ לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיַעֲקֹב; וְנָתַתִּי אֹתָהּ לָכֶם מוֹרָשָׁה
A’	אֲנִי יְהוָה

 

“The first stanza of the song, (Az Yashir) beginning with its first word ashirah (excluding the eleven third-person introductory words of superscription) and concluding with verse 11, contains 102 words and subdivides into two parts of fifty and fifty-two words respectively, exactly as God’s proclamation does in our passage. The first strophe of that first stanza, concluding with “YHWH is His name” (v. 3), appropriately comprises 26 words. (In addition, in the song’s second stanza, the combination of the final two strophes [vv. 14-18], concluding with the verse relevant to our theme, “YHWH will reign for ever and ever,” contains fifty-two words).”

 

# Generation of Moshe Rabbenu from Adam/Creation	26
# of times that אֲנִי יְהוָה appears in the 5 books of the Torah	80
Leviticus 19 אֲנִי יְהוָה	16
Leviticus 19 אֲנִי, יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם	8/16
First אֲנִי יְהוָה in pure form, spanning till the last אֲנִי יְהוָה in the Former Prophets	2600
From וּשְׁמִי יְהוָה, לֹא נוֹדַעְתִּי לָהֶם spanning till the end of the Five Books of the Torah	1352 (=26 x 52)
Total number of verses in the Torah from beginning to end in which יְהוָה appears without prefixes	1326 (= 26 x 51)
Total number of verses in the Torah and Former Prophets from beginning to end in which יְהוָה appears without prefixes	2340 (26 x 90)
Verses in which יְהוָה appears without prefixes from וּשְׁמִי יְהוָה, לֹא נוֹדַעְתִּי לָהֶם spanning till the end of the Five Books of the Torah	1170 (26 x 45)
Verses in which יְהוָה appears without prefixes from וּשְׁמִי יְהוָה, לֹא נוֹדַעְתִּי לָהֶם spanning till the end of the Former Prophets	2184 (26 x 84)
Verses in which יְהוָה appears with prefixes from וּשְׁמִי יְהוָה, לֹא נוֹדַעְתִּי לָהֶם spanning till the end of the Former Prophets	2496 (26 x 96)
Verses in which יְהוָה appears with prefixes from וּשְׁמִי יְהוָה, לֹא נוֹדַעְתִּי לָהֶם spanning till the end of the Five Books of the Torah	1820 (26 x 70)

 

Parashat Ki Tissa 2020: Coronavirus and a TIme of Crisis: Turning Uncertainty into a Unique Opportunity for Growth

In this week's podcast, we take stock of the situation in the world today, with the United States reeling from the Coronavirus pandemic. We explore the text of the sin of the Golden Calf and we learn many important lessons from the courageous response of Moses. We end with the levels of spiritual growth that became available to Moses and the nation once the crisis had resolved.

Parashat Tessaveh Speech 2020: The One Who Hears

In this week's Derasha, we analyze the brilliant book The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer. We relate its teachings to the Parasha and to Megillat Esther, noticing the powerful message that emerges from the comparison. 

Parashat Terumah Class 2020: The Mishkan and Genesis: A Blueprint of Spiritual Growth

In this week's class, we analyze the concepts of Parashat Terumah and notice the intriguing connections with Genesis. We end with a discussion of meditation and mindfulness.

Parashat Mishpatim 2020: Ascending the Mountain of Spiritual Development

In this week's class, we analyze the end of Parashat Mishpatim and its connection to the words of Carl Jung: "Beware of wisdom you have not earned."

Parashat Yitro Speech 2020: The Wonders of God and the Wonders of Childhood

In this week's speech, we ask the question, "Why don't we see open miracles from God like we saw in the Bible?" We close with a discussion of Albert Einstein's "the mysterious."

Parashat Yitro Class 2020: A Peak Experience

In this week's class, we analyze the Parasha with an eye for the miraculous. We open with the lessons of Yitro and we close with the lessons of the experience at Sinai.