Michael Franco

Parashat Haazinu: Destiny, Responsibility, and the Victimhood Mentality

In this week's podcast, we reflect on the importance of taking responsibility in our lives. We are urged by Moses in Parashat Haazinu to take an honest look at our lives and to avoid becoming the victims of circumstance.

Shabbat Shubah: Famous Failures, Yonah, and the Faith of God

In this week's podcast, we begin with a litany of fascinating failures from some unlikely individuals. We then transition to the messages at the center of Yom Kippur, uncovering the profound message at the heart of Sefer Yonah, the Haftarah of minha on Yom Kippur.

Parashat Nissabim and Rosh Hashanah: Gan Eden, Sedom, and the Blast of the Shofar

In this week's podcast, we explore the dual path of destiny set out by Moses in Parashat Nissabim. We then demonstrate that the key to successful living lies in understanding the message of Rosh Hashanah and leading a life of inspiration.

Parashat Ki Tabo: Transcending Space and Time

In this week's podcast, we discuss the ritual in the beginning of the parasha regarding the first fruits. We discover the deeper significance of this ritual and appreciate the poignancy of living a life of connectedness through time.

Parashat Ki Tesé: Appreciating the Innovative and Revolutionary Nature of the Torah

In this week's podcast, we discuss a few of the laws of the continued "Mishpatim" section. We look to these misvot with an eye towards the Torah's earth-shattering innovations and appreciate the effects that still last in society till this very day.

Parashat Shofetim: Cheating Death and the Unfathomable Potential of a Life

In this podcast, we study 2 important laws from Parashat Shofetim that expand upon the sixth commandment: "Thou shalt not murder." Poignantly, we ponder the finite nature of human existence, while at the same time pointing to those things that allow us to transcend even death.

Parashat Shofetim: "As all the Other Nations": Achieving our Potential Through Checks and Balances

In this week's podcast, we study the system of government envisioned by the Torah. We notice that the key to fulfilling our potential lies in the proper leadership as envisioned by the Torah.

Parashat Eqeb: The Golden Mean and a Guide to Balanced Living

In this week's podcast, we present the different ways that the Torah portrays the land of Israel and contrasts it with other lands. We derive an invaluable lesson from this, reflecting on its implications for a balanced life, proper parenting, and the mystery of existence itself.

"The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there--on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam."

- Carl Sagan

Parashat VaEthannan: Balancing Philosophical Passion and Moral Fidelity

In this week's podcast, we continue our explanation of the function of Sefer Debarim as a whole. We also discuss some of the differences between the Yitro decalogue and that in our Parasha. We close with the following question: "Which is more important -- a passionate religious feeling or a fidelity to the laws of the covenant?"

"It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through."

- Zig Ziglar

SCA Tish'a BeAb 2019: Mr. Michael Franco

Zekharya Timeless Prophecy: Should We Fast on Tish'a BeAb?