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

In this shiur, delivered in Monsey, Rav Burg explains how Rav Shimon Bar Yochai, and the inner Torah which connects to the essence of all things, brings true Shalom to the world.

In this shiur, based on a Sicha from the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt"l, Rav Burg highlights the needs for structure in order to be successful. In the Beis HaMikdash the Kohanim were vigilant because the environment was permeated with Kedusha. Outside of the Beis HaMikdash, Moshe Rabbeinu ensured that they were overseen by the Beis Din in oder to ensure their continued vigilance in the area of Kedusha. Wh...

In this shiur, delivered in Mevaseret at the start of Kayitz Zman, Rav Burg explains how Moshe Rabbeinu wanted Rav Akiva to take the Jews out of Mitzrayim. Because Rav Akiva achieved understanding of the fiftieth level of Binah he was able to see through to the essence of even someone who had fallen into the lowest level of Tumah and to redeem them. Rav Burg explains how when we learn Torah we hav...

In this shiur, based on a sicha from the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt"l, Rav Burg explains the concepts of Ratzo and Shov, three perspectives as to how Hashem relates to creation and how Rabbah Bar Nachmeini was able to see the purity in every single Jew, even those who were persecuting him.

In this shiur, delivered to the Nshei of Neve Shamir, Rav Burg explains the Zohar HaKadosh which speaks about Moshe Rabbeinu confronting the inner essence of Pharaoh, namely arrogance. Arrogance is built on the impoverished mentality that we are not enough and allows us to do despicable things to uphold this false notion of self. On a deeper level, even our arrogance comes from the Divine but it i...

Question - If Rebbe were to give shiur about things to keep in mind and be conscious of when building a home of shalom bayis what would be the number one thing that Rebbe would speak about? What is that one factor that will create a strong home of Shalom Bayis? In this shiur, Rav Burg answers this question by examining the enlarged Beis in the word Bereishis and the small Aleph in the word Vayikra...

Every single korban has salt in it but none are allowed to have yeast or honey (with the exception of the shtei halachem on Shavuos). The Rambam explains that the Torah did not allow honey or yeast because that is what the baalei avodah zarah used for their sacrifices. What does this mean for us? In this shiur (delivered at Stern College) Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of sacrifice and how th...

As the beginning of Maggid, Ha Lachma Anya contains within it all of Maggid. And yet it is a section of the Haggadah that makes very little sense. In contrast to the rest of the Haggadah it is written in Aramaic. Why? Ha Lachma Anya does not seem to have anything to do with Maggid. Why is it placed there?  This is not the bread that our forefathers ate in Mitzrayim, it's the food that they ate...

The washstand in the Mishkan was made of the hand mirrors that the women used in Mitzrayim to ensure the continuity of Klal Yisrael. Moshe Rabbeinu was reluctant to use these mirrors but Hashem said they were most precious to Him.  What was the machlokes between Moshe and Hashem. Why were these mirrors so precious? In this shiur Rav Burg explains how the way we we look at things is what makes...

Based on a sicha from the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt"l, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of bells and pomegranates on the hem of the clothing of the Kohen Gadol. True leaders know that they cannot be safe in the Kodesh Hakedoshim if they do not represent every single Jew, including those who make a lot of noise. The pomegranates stand alone (according to Rashi) to show that even in our state of imper...

In this shiur, delivered to the Chizzuk Mission in Aish HaTorah, Rav Burg explains how even though we remained servants of Achashverosh (which is why we don't say Hallel), we still celebrate Purim because we found the joy within our state of incompleteness. True joy comes from finding the completion within the incompletion. But there is great vulnerability in admitting that we are incomplete and t...

Yaakov Avinu took with him the Atzei Shitim from Eretz Canaan to Mitzrayim in order the Klal Yisrael should have the wood in order to build the Mishkan and the Aron. Why did he not just instruct them to take the Atzei Shitim from Mitzrayim? Or better yet, just take them from the Midbar and not have to carry them throughout the desert? In this shiur Rav Burg explores the part of us that is foolish....

When Yisro joins Moshe Rabbeinu in the desert, Moshe relays all of the happenings that occurred to Klal Yisrael. This despite the fact that the passuk already tells us that Yisro had heard everything. Why did Moshe tell Yisro what he already knew? What was being added? Rashi tells us that Yisro heard about the splitting of the sea and the war with Amalek. This is difficult to understand since the...

In order to marry Tzipporah, Moshe Rabbeinu makes a deal with Yisro to give his first born child to Avodah Zara. How couold Moshe have done this? Are we not obligated to give our lives in order to avoid serving idols? Not only does this go against the Torah but it is against the Sheva Mitzvos Bnei Noach as well!  In this shiur, Rav Burg explains two methods of raising our children: Rational -...

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Rav Burg began this shiur by asking four questions: 1. We sang Shira in the zechus of our Emunah. What is the connection between our emunah and singing? 2. Az Yashir is the source for techias hameisim in the Torah. What is the connection between techias hameisim and singing? 3. Every morning we sing Az Yashir in Pesukei D'zimra. P"D is about praise and thanksgiving for the greatness of Hashem. Az...

Why is the name of the Parsha Beshalach when there are so many aspects of the Parsha (Krias Yam Suf, the descent of the Mann and Milchemes Amalek) that seem to be more important? Why is it that Pharaoh needs to compel us to leave Mitzrayim? In this shiur, Rav Burg explains how we are brought down into this world to transform the Pharaoh in our lives. Additionally, only through being absolutely com...

Q&A at Stern College

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The Halachos of Shlucho Shel Adam Kamoso is learned out from the Parsha of Korban Pesach. Why specifically this Parsha? Moshe Rabbeinu is the ultimate Shliach of Hashem and yet he is at first hesitant to accept the mission. Why? In this shiur, Rav Burg explains how if we want to leave the Mitzrayims of our lives and experience true redemption we must transcend our own ego and nullify ourselves to...

Each of the ten Makkos that destroyed Mitzrayim taught invaluable lessons about the dysfunctionality of Mitzrayim. In this shiur, based on a sicha from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rav Burg explores the Makka of Barad, hail. The unique nature of the hail  in Mitzrayim was that it was fire covered in ice. Why did Hashem create the hail in this fashion? We must make sure in life not just to engage th...

In this shiur Rav Burg gave over two pieces from the Aish Kodesh. Vayechi - In this piece the Aish Kodesh teaches us how Yaakov Avinu being "blocked off" from revealing the end of days to his children was actually a sign of the redemption itself. When the damage of Golus reaches cosmic levels Hashem will surely bring the Geula. Vaeira - In this piece the Aish Kodesh teaches us the difference betwe...

Moshe Rabbeinu wonders about the reason Klal Yisrael has not left Mitzrayim. Initially he believes that Klal Yisrael needs a warrior to teach them their strength but ultimately he learns that the reason Klal Yisrael has not left Mitzrayim is because of their lack of Achdus. To redeem Klal Yisrael Moshe Rabbeinu must learn to become a shepherd, taking care of the young sheep that has strayed from t...

There are various opinions regarding the origin of Moshe Rabbeinu's name. There are those that maintain that it is a Hebrew name while others maintain that it is an Egyptian name. If Klal Yisrael is redeemed in the merit of not changing their names, how could Moshe Rabbeinu himself have an Egyptian name? In this shiur Rav Burg explains the true nature of golus. A light descends into the darkness o...

Based on brilliant and novel insight the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt'l, Rav Burg explains how each name of the parshios of Bereishis represents another stage in the development of the history of the world.