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

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explains how the purpose of going into Golus was to bridge the gap between the Avos and Klal Yisrael in order to pass on the pristine emunah that they had achieved.

In this shiur, delivered at the Michlala Chanukah "Culture" Yom Iyun, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of the word Hod. There is surface beauty that reflects the inner beauty of a person and then there is a beauty that is so awesome that it cannot be captured by the vessel that attempts to contain it. The miracle of Chanukah is that the inner beauty bursts forth and overwhelms the container.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explores the difference between the dreams of Pharoah and the dreams of Yaakov Avinu. Pharaoh dreams that he is standing above the Nile River, Yaakov dreams that Hashem is standing above him. When we dream that we are above God we go back to sleep. When we dream that God is standing above us we are obligated to fulfill the mission for which we wer...

In this shiur, delivered at the Mevaseret Yud Tes Kislev Fabrengen, Rav Burg explains how Hashem writes down all of our Mitzvos and has incredible nachas from us. The Baal Shem Tov came down into this world to remind us that each and every Yid is the beloved child of Hashem and how He can't stop talking about even our smallest Mitzvos.

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explores the symmetry of the story of Yosef HaTzaddik. When Yosef truly examines his life and does the real work of being in self, not only does his own life change but the lives of his brothers change as well.

In this shiur, delivered in Shenk in Washington Heights, Rav Burg explains the inner nature of Yosef’s dreams. Far from placing himself at the center of the world, Yosef sought to unite the Shevatim by seeing through to the essence that we all share.

In this shiur, delivered in the Feder home, Rav Burg explores the inner nature of dreams. In our dreams we go beyond our intellectual faculties and touch the essence.

In this shiur, delivered in the Stahler home for the Chizuk Mission, Rav Burg explains why Chanukah is identified with the faculty of sight and how we are meant to see through the darkness.

In this shiur, delivered at the Young Israel of New Rochelle Mishmar, Rav Burg explores Yaakov Avinu's psychological state after surviving Lavan and how he struggles with his inner Eisav to prepare for the battle ahead.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains the difference between how Eisav raises his children in resentment and Yosef raises his children to let go of their trauma and find greatness in their struggles.

In this shiur, delivered in MMY, Rav Burg explains the definition of marriage, the definition of self and how we date and get married from a deep place of self.

In this shmooze, delivered at Mevaseret Mishmar, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of the fact that Yaakov slept on Har HaMoriah and did not learn Torah and at the same time was learning Mishnayos all night long. As we descend deeper into Golus and the truth becomes less and less clear, we discover our own voice and our own contributions to the choir of Torah shebaal Peh.

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explores the inner nature of the Terpahim and why Rachel stole them from Lavan. Rav Burg explains that the nature of Rachel Imeinu is to reveal that which is concealed. Warning: this shiur is very deep.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains the inner connection between Yaakov Avinu skipping the Beis HaMikdash and returning to it through Kefitzas HaDerech, the institution of Maariv and Har HaMoriah. When we daven in our lowest moments we can skip over the normal process and find ourselves at untold spiritual heights.

In this shiur, delivered in the Lubat home in RBS, Rav Burg explains the darkness of Yavan. When man believes that only that which can be explained in a logical and rational fashion exists he puts himself at the center of the universe. This results in a tyrannical approach to the world. In contrast, Judaism believes that the essence of Hashem is beyond human comprehension and from the perspective...

In this shmooze, delivered at the Mevaseret Thanksgiving Fabrengen, Rav Burg explains how gratitude unites every aspect of our being.

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explains how Rivka was confused by her dual nature. On the one hand she had a part of her that was drawn to Kedusha and yet another part was drawn to Tumah. Our conflicted nature is not a bug but a feature as we learn to bring Godliness into every aspect of our lives.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains the difference between the way that Avraham engaged with the world and the way Yitzchak engaged with the world. Avraham was able to have an impact even on the people of Mitzrayim but the effects were not necessarily long lasting. Yitzchak was only able to impact the Pelsihtim but the impact was eternal.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains how Avraham Avinu ensured that Yitzchak married a girl who was willing to leave it all behind in order to discover who she really is.

In this shiur, delivered at Mevaseret Mishmar, Rav Burg explains how Malachim have a single minded focus. Totally present with whatever they are doing. Human beings can reach an even higher level where we can live in multiple dimensions at once.

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explores the Haftorah that deals with the Isha Shunamis who did not ask Elisha for a bracha to have children despite her barren state. Only when we dare to love, when we have the deep conviction that we are enough even when we gey hurt, can we truly be alive.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains (based on a Sicha from the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt"l) the true nature of Mesiras Nefesh. Anyone can sacrifice their life for a greater cause but in a certain way that can still be self serving. The ultimate sacrifice is the sacrifice of Avraham Avinu - he was ready to sacrifice himself. He was ready to destroy everything that was important t...

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains how living from a deep place of soulfulness creates our reality. Hagar received messages from four or five angels when she was told that she was going to give birth to Yishmael. This is a reference to the soul itself and when we are deeply connected to our soul, we can bring ourselves into reality.

In this shiur, delivered on zoom for oravsimcha, Rav Burg explains the Chasidic approach to the role of Malchus. On the one hand Malchus is a Mekabel, actualizing the Sefiros above it and yet paradoxically it is also rooted in the Divine Essence, completely above the Sefiros.

In this shiur, delivered at Thursday night Mishmar in Mevaseret, Rav Burg explains (based on a sicha from the Lubavitcher Rebbe) how Noach knew that the waters of the flood had receded and that it was safe for him to leave the Teiva. We can leave the Teiva when we know that we are essentially Godly (olive trees) and that we can always grow new leaves (freshly plucked). Only then can we confront th...