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

In one of the most perplexing stories in Chumash, Moshe Rabbeinu is told by Hashem to speak to the rock in order to bring forth water so that Klal Yisrael could have what to drink. Rather than following Hashem's intrsuctions, Moshe Rabbeinu hits the rock and loses the opportunity to lead Klal Yisrael into Eretz Yisrael. In the shiur, Rav Burg explains how Moshe Rabbeinu made this mistake and the i...

Why does Hashem send a soul down into this world if the only purpose is to return to shomayim? If an aveira is so bad then why does Hashem create aveiros to begin with? In this shiur, Rav Burg explains how sometimes what appears to be falling downwards is actually falling upwards. Within some of the worst moments of our lives, within some of our worst decisions, there is an opportunity to get down...

Rav Burg addressed the winner of the Tomer Devorah DIF (Dignity in Focus) Challenge. In this shiur Rav Burg explained the inner nature of dignity and why it plays such an important role in our lives. 

In this week's Parsha we find that the Kohanim are obligated to educate their children in three areas - the issur of eating insects, drinking blood and becoming tamei. The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains that these three areas give us insight into the way we ought to be educating our own children. Based on this letter from the Rebbe, Rav Burg explores how these three ideas can be applied in our own tim...

In this shiur Rav Burg addresses the inner meaning behind the talmidim of Rebbe Akiva treating each other disrespectfully. Could it be that people who had earned the title of "Talmidei Rebbe Akiva" really did not have respect for one another? The answer to this question sheds light on our own relationship and how we are meant to treat our loved ones.

In 1948 Hashem miraculously returned us to Eretz Yisrael. It goes without saying that we must have tremendous hakaras hatov to Hashem for giving us such an incredible gift. In this shiur Rav Burg explains how not only must we have gratitude to Hashem but to the shluchim that Hashem sent to build the Medina regardless of their intentions.

The Pesach Seder teaches us about the national redemption of Am Yisrael but it also gives us a road map to our own personal freedom. In this shiur, Rav Burg teaches how Yachatz enables us to find the divinity even within the most broken parts of our self.

This shiur, delivered in memory of Rafael Moshe Ben Avraham, deals with one of the most difficult topics in Yidishkeit - finding Hashem even in the midst of great tragedy.

The entire theme of Purim is vinehafoch hu, everything was turned on its head. What is the inner meaning of this Purim theme? In this shiur Rav Burg explores how Golus reveals a dimension where everything we thought we knew is exactly the opposite. In this dimension even the greatest rasha is infinitely connected to Hashem.

I'm always stuck after a date where I don't find the boy to be attractive. He has other qualities that I'm looking for, but attraction isn't there. Any advice?

Why is it that shadchanim are constantly saying what I’m looking for doesn’t exist? Are there not boys out there who value learning and also understand the responsibility to make a parnassa? What should a girl do when she’s told such a thing? Any Chizuk to keep pushing forward? Thank you!

At the end of Parshas Yisro we find a commandment not to act immodestly as we ascend the Mizbeach. The last passuk in the parsha ought to be the climax of the entire parsha. It's where the whole story was headed! As the last pasuk in the Parsha of the giving of the Torah we may feel slightly underwhelmed by this issur. What is the inner meaning of this prohibition? How does it relate to Kabbalas H...

The oil of Chanukah is characterized by four distinct properties: 1. The olive is pressed to extract the oil 2. Oil deeply penetrates other substances 3. Oil does not mix with other liquids 4. Oil rises to the top when mixed with other liquids In this shiur (based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe) Rav Burg explains how sometimes the darkness propels the Jew into a state of self discovery,...

Rav Burg explains the nature of Yud Tes Kislev at the 9 and a half minute mark. The main sicha was given at the 47 minute mark.

In the final moments of her life Rachel Imeinu called her newborn son Ben Oni. In the very same passuk Yaakov calls the child Binyamin.  Why doesn't Yaakov call Binyamin by the name Rachel chose for him?  We know that Yaakov loved Rachel so deeply. Why do they spend their last moments on earth together fighting over the child's name? Why does the Torah refer to Binyamin as Binyamin and n...

Interestingly, the first time the Torah ever says the word love is in the context of Yitzchak's marriage to Rivka. The Torah never says the word love in the context of Avraham's marriage to Sarah. The Torah does say that Yaakov loved Rachel but that was prior to their marriage. In this shiur, Rav Burg explores the nature of how we articulate emotions before relationships, within relationships and...

How can we understand the statement of Chazal that those who mourn the Beis HaMikdash will merit to see it in joy. Have not the Tzaddikim mourned? Why haven't they merited to see the Beis HaMikdash rebuilt? How can we mourn something we have never experienced?

Rav Burg explains how the Beis HaMikdash is an expression of Hashem's love for Klal Yisrael. Its destruction is the concealment of God's love.

Hdhs

In our eleventh shiur Rav Burg discusses: 1. How to build an effective rewards program. 2. The importance of short term and long term rewards. 3. The value in remaining emotionally detached.  At the end of the shiur you ought to be able to answer the following questions clearly and concisely: What is the value in having a rewards program where the child immediately sees the reward after they...

In our tenth shiur Rav Burg discusses: 1. The goal of a reward based motivational program. 2. The difference between a reward and a bribe. 3. The various steps needed to create a successful reward based motivational program  (ie. how to identify goals, set clear performance standards, select appropriate rewards etc...) At the end of the shiur you ought to be able to answer the following quest...

In our ninth shiur Rav Burg discusses: 1. Why does praise have an impact on a child? 2. The value of setting clear goals for our children. 3. What can we do when praise is not working as a motivational tool? 4. How to praise our children (ie. specificity, immediately, authentically, incrementally etc...) 5. What are the benefits of praise? At the end of the shiur you ought to be able to answer the...

In our eighth shiur Rav Burg discusses: 1. Three different methods of responding to a child who does not buy into the motivational answer we have given them: a) exploring other answers to the child's questions b) wondering if there is another issue in the child's life that is an underlying issue preventing the child from accepting the answers they are being given c) expanding the Jewish "experienc...

In our seventh shiur  Rav Burg discusses: 1. The definition of motivation  2. The issues with not responding to a defiant child 3. The issues with using coercive measures when responding to a defiant child 4. Using reasoning and experience to motivate our children. At the end of the shiur you ought to be able to answer the following questions clearly and concisely: 1. What is the definit...

In our sixth shiur Rav Burg discusses: 1. A parents responsibility to ensure that their child is capable of being another link in the chain of the Mesorah  2. The impact of the environment even at a very young age 3. The challenge of a school system that is not designed to cater to the needs of the individual child 4. A parents responsibility to raise an ethical child who understand that our...