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

This shiur is divided into two parts. The first part of the shiur is an analysis of the Brisker Ravs explanation of the Mitzvah of Heseiba and cheirus based on a machlokes between the Rambam, Tosafos and the Rosh. The second part of the shiur which begins at the 47 minute mark is based on a piece from מועדים בחסידות (written by Rav Yoel Kahn) and explains the miracle of Yetzias Mitzrayim and how w...

To get from Egypt to Israel you do not need to cross the Yam Suf. The entire miracle of Krias Yam Suf seems unnecessary and yet we reference it everyday in davening during Az Yashir and after Krias Shema. In truth the tearing open of the sea reveals the spark of God that resides in EVERY Jew. 

What does love mean?  Is love at first sight real or is it just lust?  What does it mean to love God? In this Pesach shiur, Rav Burg explains the machlokes between Moshe Rabbeinu and Pharaoh as to where we can discover our relationship with Hashem. 

 No matter where a Jew is, no matter the circumstances they are in, a Jew is always free because he has been Chosen by Hashem. 

God took us out of Mitzrayim and in doing so he chose us. But what does that mean? Are we better than the rest of the world? I don't feel better than anyone else? What difference does being Chosen make in our lives? All these answers and more in this illuminating shiur from Rav Burg on Yetzias Mitzrayim. 

Question: Can you please give some hashkafic insight on utilizing physical talents? (ie. Art, Music, dance, drama, athleticism, intellect etc...) If a person is gifted and doesn’t use it directly for avodas Hashem will they be held accountable? To what extent should a person focus on such talents and in what ways can they be used to strengthen their relationship with Hashem?

Question: How can I understand the notion of women supporting their families while the husband learns all day? Doesn't the Torah say that a husband is supposed to support his family? Where does this approach come from? What do you think is the reason for this shift in tradition?

Chazal teach us that the name of Mashiach is the leper. Why would Mashiach have such a strange name?  Only the Kohen can declare someone afflicted with tzaras to be pure or impure. Why? Would it not make more sense to have the chacham who actually knows the halacha be the one who makes the declaration? In this shiur, Rav Burg expounds upon the notion that it is our worst parts that can bring...

Last night Rav Burg was invited to speak at a special event at Tomer Devorah in honor of those girls that spent a month working on the concept of focusing on leading a dignified life. Being a tzanua means much more than buttoning another button; it is seeing the world in a Godly way even in the privacy of our own homes when no one else is around. The dignity with which we hold ourselves is a commu...

For thousands of years Jews have been persecuted where ever they went. As strangers in a strange land we have never been fully accepted into our host country for extended periods of time. How do we cope with this challenge? Some say that we need to close off from the society around us and live in our own ghettos. Others say we need to leave our Judaism behind and assimilate into the culture around...

Nadav and Avihu were two of the greatest Tzaddikim of their generation. In a strange story, the Torah tells us that they died upon bringing Ketores that they were not commanded to bring. Is this sin punishable by death? Why were they consumed by a fire from Heaven? In this shiur, Rav Burg teaches the inner meaning of this story and expounds upon what it means to build a passionate relationship wit...

 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. 

Purim is a time of deep introspection. We learn to find Hashem in our lives. We are all living a story but is it the real story or just our narrative of the story? Learn how to choose which story you want to live in this inspiring shiur from Rav Burg 

Question: There are certain times that are very difficult for me to have the reverence towards my parents that I know I am supposed to have. Do you have any advice (and chizzuk) on how to always have the utmost reverence for our parents?

For thousands of years Jews throughout history have wanted nothing more than to be accepted by the world around us. The Purim story begins with a group of Jews who upon being invited to the feast of Achashverosh felt that they no longer had a need for a home of their own because they were finally assimilated enough to be accepted by the king. In this shiur from Rav Burg we explore topics including...

Why does Esther invite Achashverosh to a seuda? Why not just make her request to save Klal Yisrael right away? Why invite him to a second seuda? Esther HaMalkah understood the psychology of Achashverosh and Haman and she exploited it to save Klal Yisrael. In this epic tale we learn what happens when the fragile, paranoid, manipulative ego meets the infinite power of God.

 Can drinking on Purim really be a spiritual activity? It often isn't but it can be. Learn more about having a meaningful and holy Purim as Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of the most dangerous Purim seuda ever.

Question: What are your thoughts on learning secular subjects? I find that there are many things and people we can learn from that are not Judaism related. Is this ok to do? Also, when we feel that we just need to take a break and "chill," is it ok to watch videos that are totally appropriate but not necessarily the most productive?

What comes first, vision or structure? This is the great debate between CEO's and CFO's. Between architects and contractors. Between Moshe Rabbeinu and Betzalel. Learn more about this machlokes and how it impacts our every day life in this latest shiur given by Rav Burg.

Ask someone who built the Mishkan and they will give you answers like "all of Klal Yisrael" and "Betzalel." In truth there is an unsung hero, Oholiav. Who was Oholiav? What was his role relative to Betzalel? Why does it matter to us? In this shiur, Rav Burg teaches us that in building a dwelling place for God we need some Tzaddikim who are Godly and some Tzaddikim who are worldly.

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

In this shiur Rav Burg teaches us how through the Cheit Haeigel we lost the crown of naaseh that we had received at Har Sinai and how through keeping Shabbos and building the Mishkan we restore the true essence of doing in our lives. It turns out that sometimes inaction is the holiest form of activity.

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.