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

This shiur was delivered by Rav Burg at the outset of a joint program between NCSY Michlelet and TJJ Ambassadors. The topic was on unity and rebuilding the Beis Hamikdash.

Why do we commemorate the day when the walls of Yerushalayim were breached? Why not just commemorate the ultimate destruction of the Beis Hamikdash that occurred on Tisha B'Av? What inner message are we being taught? When we lose our sense of borders, we lose our sense of uniqueness which ultimately culminates in losing our sense of self.

Question: What do you do if a husband or wife wants to grow more than the other at a faster pace? How do you balance taking on things separately or alone and in a healthy way while keeping in mind were doing this to serve Hakadosh Baruch hu?

I feel like I’m in a very abusive relationship with G-d in that nothing ever seems to go my way, no matter how much effort (or lack of it) I invest and it makes me feel like I want out. What does someone in this situation do?

How do you find the balance between not letting things bottle up but not constantly criticizing each other?

Question: What do you do when you feel like you've been stagnant and want to grow more but just don't have the drive or know how?

Question: Why are we davening for long life? Don’t we want to accomplish our tafkid and leave. Wouldn’t it be better to daven to recognize what our tafkid is so we can accomplish it and go?

Who are we? Sometimes we take on different personalities depending on the situation we find ourselves in. On the day that we received the Torah we were given the gift to be the most authentic version of ourselves. In the shiur, Rav Burg teaches us how mindfulness allows us to ensure that we don't lead a fragmented life when we go out into the shuk.

 Based on Rav Wolbe's classic Alei Shur Rav Burg explores Shaar Shlishi - the chapter that deals with knowing yourself.  

 Based on Rav Wolbe's classic Alei Shur Rav Burg explores Shaar Shlishi - the chapter that deals with knowing yourself.  

Question: How do you balance running around helping others and being strong for others, while also taking care of yourself and your needs (either spriritual, emotional, physical)? When is it okay to be selfish?

Question: What should one do to help their siblings or those surrounding them to find the right "Derech"? What is the best way to impact those around you without turning them away?

This short shiur was delivered by Rav Burg at the siyum Mishnayos of a talmid in Mevaseret. In this shiur Rav Burg challenges the talmidim to think about if we make sacrifices for God or do we ask God to sacrifice for us.

Based on Rav Wolbe's classic Alei Shur Rav Burg explores Shaar Shlishi - the chapter that deals with knowing yourself.

So much of Lag BaOmer is confusing. Why are we celebrating the death of Rashbi? What's the inner connection between the death of 24,000 of Rebbe Akivas talmidim and the death of Rashbi? What does Kabbalah even mean? In this shiur Rav Burg explains the Minhag to play with bows and arrows on Lag BaOmer and how we can reveal the inner essence of every single Jew.

Delivered at the NCSY Summer Staff Training Shabbaton Rav Burg discusses what true leadership looks like. Why was Moshe Rabbeinu not allowed into Eretz Yisrael simply because he hit the rock? Why did he have to hit it twice to make it work? In this shiur Rav Burg explains tow different forms of leadership, authoritative and communicative. Knowing who we are speaking with and what they need is what...

Technology plays an important role in our lives. Without technology you wouldn't be able to listen to these shiurim! At the same time we cannot ignore the dangers and challenges that technology presents. How do we negotiate the technological revolution that our generation is living through? In this shiur Rav Burg addresses the talmidot of Tomer Devorah who were given the opportunity to disconnect...

Question: I find it is easy to pour out my out my heart to G-d if needed yet really feel like I need guidance in how to have day in day out conversation with G-d

The Torah teaches us that we are not allowed to cut ourselves (as the idolaters do) as a sign of mourning. From the very same passuk Chazal darshen that we are not allowed to separate ourselves from the community. What's the inner connection between these two ideas? In this shiur Rav Burg teaches us how to reframe our lives from the perspective of God and be true to ourselves no matter where we ar...

 Based on Rav Wolbe's classic Alei Shur Rav Burg explores Shaar Shlishi - the chapter that deals with knowing yourself.   

 Based on Rav Wolbe's classic Alei Shur Rav Burg explores Shaar Shlishi - the chapter that deals with knowing yourself.   

The story of Peter Pan and Captain Hook is the story of two different ways of coping with time. Peter Pan refuses to grow up and ignores the reality of time. Captain Hook is oppressed by time which results in his tyranny. How does a Jew view time? How can we engage our world without being afraid of the inevitable time? Sefiras HaOmer teaches us how a Jew brings timeless talents to the world of tim...

What is the secret of Jewish survival? How have Jews managed not only to survive but to thrive even under the most oppressive conditions? The secret lies in how Judaism frames the world in which we live. Is it essentially a place of suffering or is it essentially a place of hope. In this shiur, Rav Burg teaches us how to listen to the whisper that calls out to us in the the most tragic moments of...

This shiur is divided into two parts. The first half an hour of the shiur is an advanced in depth analysis of the Machlokes between Rashi and Tosafos as to he nature of Tashbisu and Bitul. The second half an hour of the shiur is based on an idea from Rav Shmuel Zucker as to why we are so makpid to remove even the smallest piece of chametz and to tell over the story of Yetzias Mitzrayim to even our...

Why did Hashem Himself perform Makkas Bechoros?  In this maamar the Alter Rebbe explains the creation of the world, how Hashem interacts with this world, and the penimius of the miracle of Pesach.  A Jew who lives on the plain of sovev kol olmin will be able to live in two dimensions at once.