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

Question: How does one work on finding Halacha to be less of a burden? For example, I have a hard time with not singing in front of men, especially when it comes to the Shabbos table and we may have male guests or relatives and I want to join in on Zemiros? I get frustrated and feel limited by this and want to make peace with it.

In what order did the following events occur? The commandment to build the Mishkan, the donation of the materials, the sin of the golden calf, the construction of the Beis Hamikdash. While the Torah does tell this story in a particular order the chronology of the story is a matter of much dispute. But ultimately the question is, does it really matter? Based on a sicha from the Lubavitcher Rebbe of...

Betzalel, architect of the Mishkan, is referred to by the Torah as the grandson of Hur. Who was Hur and what is his connection to the building of the Mishkan? While Hur only appears twice in the Torah, the Medrash tells us that he was tragically murdered in the sin of the golden calf. Learn more about this hidden story and the lessons we can learn from it in this latest shiur from Rav Burg.

Question: With Purim right around the corner, are girls allowed to get drunk when they’re in a place with only girls and they know they aren’t going out at all? What is the role of drinking for women in general on Purim?

Every one of us has challenges in life. Some live with an air of negativity while others somehow are able to see the positive in even the most difficult situations. In this shiur, Rav Burg teaches us how to have beautiful eyes and see Hashem in even our most difficult times.

What is the main function of the Beis Hamikdash? The Rambam says that it is for us to bring Korbanos. The Ramban says that the Aron was the most important vessel in the Beis Hamikdash. What is the deeper meaning behind this Machlokes? In this shiur, Rav Burg teaches us how the Beis Hamikdash is the place where not only do we reach out God but God reaches out to us. Not having the Beis Hamikdash is...

Question: I know you said on the Nitzotzos Shabbaton that our hashkafa should be relevant in our decisions but I feel like often I get excited by things that I “know” don’t matter, like shoes/shopping etc. How can I make my hashkafa translate into my actions in every day life?

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

Latest episode of Nitzotzos: Thoughts to keep your spark alive

In this shiur, based on a maamar from the Tzemach Tzedek, Rav Burg explores the concept of aveiros becoming merits for us through appropriate Teshuva. In the end, if we don't become deeply ashamed of who we are, our aveiros will teach us things about ourselves that we never knew before  

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

Question: Why did Hashem create us and put in a physical world if the goal is just to be close to Him? Why not just create us in a different realm where we are already elevated?

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.  

Latest episode of Nitzotzos: Thoughts to keep your spark alive

At Har Sinai the passuk references five kolos. The Gemara in Berachos connects this to the five kolos we reference in Sheva Berachos and says that those who want a kinyan in Torah ought to celebrate a bridesgroom. In this shiur, Rav Burg explains the five dimensions of how Hashem created the world and how each dimension expresses a different aspect of our relationship with Hashem and others.

The parsha of Kabbalas HaTorah begins with the words "Vayishma Yisro." This indicates that the entirety of this parsha is encapsulated in these two words. What is the deeper meaning of listening? Who was Yisro?  In this shiur, delivered in Yerushalayim at the first ever Nitzotzos event in Eretz Yisrael, Rav Burg expounds upon how there are two ways of engaging the world. As it is or as it wil...

Question: How should a girl with an outgoing personality balance the middah of tznius without suppressing or neglecting her natural personality? We know our speech is holy, how do we know when we are talking too much or not talking enough/suppressing what we have to say for tznius?

As Klal Yisrael is redeemed from Mitzrayim we walked through the sea on dry land. But if we are walking through dry land are we really in the sea?  The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains that there are two types of people, those who dwell on the land and those who live in the sea. In this shiur, Rav Burg teaches us that it is through our connection to Hashem and being enveloped in His world that we c...

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

Klal Yisrael finds themselves trapped between the oncoming Egyptian army and the banks of the Yam Suf. An argument ensues. What should we do? One camp says they will never take us alive. Another says let us surrender. Another argues that we should fight till the death. And yet another says let us pray to God. Moshe rejects all of these plans. In life we often find ourselves "stuck" in difficult pl...

Celebrating those talmidim in Mevaseret who committed themselves to learning shnayim mikra vviechad targum, Rav Burg spoke at a siyum on the topic of the majesty of Torah and how learning Chumash can enhance a persons relationship with Hashem.

The last plague, the slaying of the Egyptian first born children, is unique in that there is a heavy emphasis on the timing of the plague. What is the inner significance of the fact that Makkas Bechoros takes place at exactly midnight? In this shiur, Rav Burg explains several essential concepts. What is a Jew? What is our Jewish mission? How do we really know who we are? 

Question: As humans, we judge others, sometimes intentionally but often times unintentionally. When I think someone is not a nice person/ doing something bad- whether they are or not, it shouldn’t be something I’m judging them for, and I feel ashamed at myself for judging. How can I go about rectifying this? What is the first step in conquering this bad inclination?

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