Nitzotzos: Inspiration to Keep Your Spark Alive with Rav Mordechai Burg

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains (based on a shiur from Rav Ahron Lopiansky shlit"a) the inner nature of a Korban. A Korban is not a sacrifice, it is a gift that we give to Hashem and the gift that Hashem wants from us is not merely our service but our passion.

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explores our battle with Amalek. Purim is the Yom Tov that remains even after Yemos HaMashiach. Amalek is the battle that we fight in every generation. Esther HaMalka asks Achashverosh to have another Seuda tomorrow. It seem that everything in our battle with Amalek is future oriented. For Amalek there is no tomorrow and for a Jew tomorrow is an...

In this shiur, delivered to the Chizzuk Mission in Aish HaTorah, Rav Burg explains the inner connection between sleeping through our performance of the Mitzvos and our connection with each and every Jew. Only when we are deeply connected to the soul of Torah and Mitzvos can we be deeply connected to each other. Only when we are connected to the soul do we merit protection from Hashem.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains how through our desire we discover hidden talents within ourselves. When we have desire Hashem gives us the vessels that we need to be successful.

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav explains the missing 1775 shekalim from the Mishkan. The Mishkan is meant to be a bridge between the spiritual and material world but without an accounting of every single Jew the bridge is incomplete. Why can't we see these missing Jews? Their light is absolutely blinding.

In this shiur, delivered in Aish HaTorah to the Chizzuk Mission, Rav Burg explores how we can increase joy even in times of great tragedy. Rav Akiva woke up his Talmidim by explaining that Esther HaMalka ruled over 127 countries because Sarah Imeinu lived for 127 years. Al though the years of Sarah's life were far from simple, she found the good in every moment and that is how we survive and thriv...

In this shiur, delivered in Sharfmans, Rav Burg explains why Betzalel and Ohaliav were equal with regards to building the Mishkan. Klal Yisrael required divine inspiration to build the Mishkan. A nation of slaves lacked the artisanal skills that would be necessary for building. Betzalel inspired those who felt worthy but Ohaliav, with his simple background, inspired the lowest of Jews.

In honor of the Mevaseret Talmidim who took upon themselves to learn Shnayim Mikra V'echad Targum this year, Rav Glanz and Rav Burg Fabrenged in Mevaseret. (Shiur begins at the 4:30 mark). Rav Burg explains how the sefer of Shemos, which is the Sefer of our redemption, is connected to the notion of Shnayim Mikra V'echad Targum. Only when we see the unity in all of the voices of Torah will...

In this week's Parsha the Torah repeats the building of the Mishkan after the Cheit Haeigel. In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains the various aspects of rupture and repair in our relationships. 1. Build something holy. 2. Rupture and repair is a process that happens over and over again. 3. We may return to places we already thought we repaired and that is normal and...

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explains why the Torah spends 400 Pesukim detailing both how the Mishkan was meant to be made and how it was ultimately made. There is an ideal life and a real life. We should not sacrifice our ideals because the reality is different and we can embrace the beauty of of our reality even when is not ideal.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains why the Luchos could be read from the inside and the outside. There are two ways of relating to Hashem. Outside Torah is scientific and mathematical. This was the Torah of Avraham Avinu. Inside Torah is discovered from within the relationship itself. We can and should discover Hashem not only from the outside but from within the words of...

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explores why although the world is a fragmented place but we crave wholeness. Only when we balance the tension of being an individual within a community do we live in harmony with creation. The Half Shekel on fire teaches us how to strike that balance.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains (based on a piece from Rav Shaul Alter shlit"a) the inner connection between the three times it says the word V'nishma in the Torah. We must know that: 1. We have inside of ourselves the capacity to be totally devoted to Hashem. 2. No matter how far we stray from the path, Hashem always us a relationship with us. 3. Every Jew...

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explains why Moshe Rabbeinu's name is not mentioned specifically in this weeks Parsha. Moshe Rabbeinu argued with Hashem that if Hashem were to destroy the Jewish People then he may as well erase Moshe's name from the Torah. Moshe had become one with the Torah to the degree that it was no longer necessary to mention his name. He was the T...

In this shiur, delivered in Sharfmans, Rav Burg explores (based on a piece from Rav Moshe Weinberger) how Yiras Shomayim is the outer sanctum and Torah is the inner sanctum. One must enter the outer sanctum first, where we feel the pain of exile, before we enter the inner sanctum, the joy of Torah. Although the Beis HaMikdash has been destroyed we still have our Mikdash Mi'at, our Shuls and Ye...

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explains how the building of the Mishkan represents three stages in the development of our relationship with Hashem. 1. We live for the Other. 2. Intimacy means exclusivity 3. We give our hearts to the One we love

In this shiur, delivered in Sharfman's, Rav Burg explains (based on a sicha from the Lubavitcher Rebbe) why Shaatnez is sometimes permitted, why Kilyaim is never permitted and why we might have thought that milk and meat would be permissible for the eating of Kodshim. Ultimately, in the times of Mashiach, one will be allowed to eat milk and meat together and this represents the perfect balance...

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains why Parshas Mishpatim, with all of its intricate legal details, follows the giving of the Torah at Har Sinai and not Parshas Terumah, which involves the building of the Mishkan. Halacha is not merely the details of our relationship with Hashem, like the dew on the grass, following Halacha ought to make us sparkle.

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explains a very sophisticated concept from the Lubavitcher Rebbe. The three gates of Nezikin (Babba Kamma, Baba Metzia, Baba Basra) are three steps in mans journey throughout history. We move from barbaric to civilized conflict to Godly harmony. Similarly in our journey towards Hashem we begin by conquering our negative forces, then we conquer ou...

In this shiur, delivered in Sharfmans, Rav Burg shares a Torah from Rav Moshe Weinberger shlit"a on what it means that Hashem took us out of Mitzrayim on eagles wings. Because we have been in Golus for so long we have forgotten that we have the ability to soar like an eagle. When Hashem takes us out of Golus he reveals to us the true nature of who we are and then we can soar.

In this shiur, delivered at Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains how before Klal Yisrael could receive the Torah they needed to be restored to their glory. Only after Klal Yisrael was healed could they receive the Torah.

The Medrash tells us that Yisro added on a chapter to the Torah that otherwise would not have been taught. How could this be so? In this shiur, based on a sicha from the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt"l, Rav Burg explains the difference between the approach of Yisro, the ultimate outsider, and Moshe Rabbeinu, the ultimate insider. Should we be our best self or our most authentic self. This is the core of th...

In this shiur, delivered in Sharfmans, Rav Burg explores three dimensions to the story of Pharaoh at the Yam Suf. 1. The simple explanation that Pharaoh was killed. 2. The deeper explanation that Pharaoh was spared and suffered as he watched the devastation of the Egyptian army. 3. Pharaoh did Teshuva, became the King of Ninveh and ultimately converted to Judaism. We all have a Pharaoh part inside...

In this shiur, delivered at Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains how the miraculous only occurs for those who see themselves as worthy of a miracle. Klal Yisrael at the banks of the Yam Suf saw themselves as idolaters and therefore were unfit for a miracle to occur. Only when they saw the bones of Yosef did they define themselves by their essential selves and not by their worst moments. And then the se...

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explores the inner connection between Beshalach and Tu B'Shvat. The Navi Yechezkel spoke about three levels of hopelessness and how through the Ohr of Torah, we can bring the dry bones back to life. So too on Tu B'Shvat the redemption process begins as the sap begins to rise resurrecting the dried out tree.