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

In this shiur the Aish Kodesh explains that while it is true that suffering purifies it is also true that suffering too much can be too much to bear. In this exceptional piece we learn how Sarah Imeinu opened up her heart to all of the pain of the Akeida so that the pain would teach Hashem (us and the world at large) how even a great tzadekes like Sarah could not live in the face of such suffering...

This kinnah, the last of the kinnos, is a kinnah of hope. It speaks about the pain of a woman in labor and the pain of a young bride who lost her husband. The cry of labor is a cry that understands that while this may be exceptionally painful it is for an ultimate purpose. The cry of a young bride is a cry that speaks to the absolute chaos of this world. In her grief, as she refuses to let go of h...

The challenge of Tisha B'Av is that we are being called upon to feel the pain of the loss of the Beis HaMikdash when we have never experienced the Beis HaMikdash. What we can feel is the pain of the shechina who longs to have a place in our world once again. Feeling the pain of another requires a strong sense of self which can only come from tapping in to the Godly soul that dwells within each of...

Tisha B'Av is a challenging time. We are asked to mourn for a Beis HaMikdash we have never seen. We say kinnos that are difficult to understand and that contain references with which we are unfamiliar. We live in an age where we are so blessed to have so much. The pain of losing the Beis HaMikdash is difficult to tap into. In this shiur, delivered at NCSY Kollel (introducing Kinnos) Rav Burg expla...

The Ir Miklat was a city of refuge for those who murdered accidentally. According to the sefarim hakedoshim the sinner who cuts himself off from Hashem in some ways can be considered like a murderer. The sinners desire to run to the Ir Miklat is an expression of the desire to do Teshuva and be saved from the goel hadam, the Satan who is chasing after him. In this shiur, delivered at NCSY Kollel Mi...

In this shiur, delivered in NCSY Michlelet, Rav Burg analyzes why at the end of Klal Yisrael's journey through the midbar Moshe Rabbeinu reminds Klal Yisrael of all of the times that they angered Hashem. Shouldn't we have ended on a positive note? In truth, at the end of the journey, we are in a perfect position to finally understand that even the "downs" were a necessary part of the process.

Three times in the Torah לה is spelled without a mapik hey (a dot in the middle of the hey). The final passuk in this week's Parsha is one of those times. Rashi, quoting Rav Moshe HaDarshan explains that without the mapik hey the word can also be read לא. In this context it would indicate that while Novach did conquer Knas and name it after himself, ultimately the name of the city did not last. Th...

In this shiur the Aish Kodesh presents a daring exploration of how Hashem fulfills the entire Torah, including the mitzvah of teshuva. How can Hashem do teshuva if he can't sin? How can Hashem regret something if He is perfect? The Aish Kodesh explains that Hashem regrets, so to speak, the pain that he has caused Klal Yisrael. Full Teshuva is not only limited to causing Klal Yisrael no more tzaros...

In this week's Parsha we find the mitzvah of the korban tamid. The Medrash says that this mitzvah captures the essence of the Torah. Why? Furthermore, why is this mitzvah juxtaposed to the appointment of Yehoshua bin Nun. Rashi explains that it comes to teach us that while Moshe was concerned about the future leadership of Klal Yisrael, Hashem asks Moshe, who will take care of me when you are gone...

In this final segment of the derasha on Rosh Hashanah the Aish Kodesh addresses the issue of the prosecuting angels that challenge the veracity of our teffilos and teshuva. Are we really crying out to connect to Hashem or are we just trying to solve our pain? Are we doing Teshuva because we really mean it, or are we doing teshuva because that's what Yidden do at this time of the year? The Aish Kod...

This week's Parsha is a master class on how to respond when you find yourself in a chaotic relationship. Korach is the archetypal narcissist who seeks to control others. While he appears to have a noble mission, in truth it is just a way of elevating himself. Moshe Rabbeinu's response teaches us how we ought to behave when we find ourselves in similar situations. In this shiur Rav Burg explains ho...

In this shiur the Aish Kodesh explains how even asking Hashem for our personal needs is an expression of Hashem's revelation in this world and our acceptance of kabalas ol malchus shomayim.  When we have the abundance mentality that comes with knowing that Hashem is forgiving we can truly participate in the relationship and take ownership of our sins.  

In this shiur the Aish Kodesh explains the difference in yiras shomayim between those with the impoverished mentality which comes from sitting in the filth of their own sins and those who have an abundance mentality. The former have yiras haonesh, fear of punishment, while the latter experience the grandeur and majesty of the Master of the World. 

Chazal teach us that Moshe Rabbeinu was treated as a father to Aaron's children because he taught them Torah. But the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt"l (with a careful reading of Rashi) shows that we are meant not only to teach our children Torah but to give our encounter with the Divine.

This shiur, dedicated lilui nishmas the 45 kedoshim who passed away in Meron last year, explains how Rebbe Shimon lived an Olam Haba life while in this world. In such a world, there is no death. These insights help us negotiate a complex tension of celebrating Lag Ba’Omer even while still feeling deeply the tragedy of last year.

In this shiur Rav Burg explains why on Pesach we begin our journey with only Matzah and yet as soon as Pesach is over we return to Chametz. If Chametz is so bad why do we ever allow Chametz to be eaten? Furthermore, on Shavuos, not only do we allow for Chametz, we celebrate Chametz with the bringing of the shtei halechem. Rav Burg explains that Pesach, Sefiras Haomer and Shavuos represent the deve...

Speaking at the siyum of the Tomer Devorah DIF challenge, Rav and Rebbetzin Burg sat on a panel and reflected on various aspects of the topic of dignity.

The Megaleh Amukos connects the death of the 24000 talmidim of Rav Akiva to the 24000 that died in the plague after Klal Yisrael were mezaneh with the Bnos Moav and worshipped Baal Peor. The Arizal connects their death to the 24000 people of Shechem that Shimon and Levi killed in the aftermath of Dina being violated by Shechem. What is the connection between these events? At first glance it seems...

In this shiur Rav Burg explains why we begin the seder with an invitation to others when we are already home and no one will hear our invitation. There are two ways to participate in a relationship: 1. Doing what the other wants 2. Creating a safe space for them to "be". Which comes first? This is the subject of a dispute between Rabban Gamliel and Rav Elazar ben Azaryah.

In this shiur Rav Burg explains the inner meaning behind why tzaras is white, why we go to a Kohen to be diagnosed and why that Kohen must be in the Beis HaMikdash. The world is created with speech and through the medium of speech we can tap in or break off from our connection to Hashem.

The Haggadah begins with the order of the seder. This order (Kadesh Urchatz etc...) contains fifteen steps. This not simply a table of contents but a roadmap to freedom. Pesach/Nissan is not only a time of national redemption but of our individual redemption as well. In this shiur, Rav Burg explores each of the fifteen steps and how we can free ourselves from ourselves.

In this shiur Rav Burg explains how the inner essence of Torah is to become an insatiably curious person. Sar HaTorah Rav Chaim zt" was such a person as Rav Burg shares many stories and lessons we can learn from the life of this great Tzaddik. 

In this shiur Rav Burg explains how believing the soul means believing in a unique self.

In this shiur Rav Burg explores the social nature of mankind and how we are impacted by our surroundings.

In this week's parsha the Torah places serious emphasis on the role of salting the korbanos. What is the inner meaning of salt? Why is it so central to our service of Hashem? In this shiur Rav Burg teaches how salt teaches us three fundamental lessons in building our relationship with Hashem.