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

In this shmooze, delivered at Mevaseret Mishmar, Rav Burg explores three different Torah’s around the halachos of Kashrus in animals. The Kli Yakar explains that we must be careful about our surrounding influences. Rav Yisrael Salanter teaches that we can never write off another Jew. The Chida explains that we need to define people by their core positivity. And if this is true about how we relate to others, it is certainly the way we need to relate to ourselves.

In this shiur, delivered in Sharfmans, Rav Burg explains the inner nature of the sin of Nadav and Avihu. What does it mean that they were drunk? Why is Ahron HaKohen told to communicate the issur about being drunk in the Mishkan for all generations? There is a difference between religious and spiritual. Religion is about serving Hashem the way He wants to be served. Spirituality is about serving Hashem with all of our heart. When we combine being religious and spiritual is when we are truly serving Hashem wholeheartedly.

In this shiur, Rav Burg explains (based on a Torah from the Shvilei Pinchas) the secret of the Bnei Ephraim leaving Mitzrayim 30 years too early. What was their thought process? What was their mistake? Why does Hashem say that He will avenge their blood if they made a mistake?

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam on Erev Pesach, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of Ha Lachma Anya. Only through pure Chesed will Klal Yisrael ultimately be redeemed.

In this shiur Rav Burg explains the deeper meaning of the small Aleph at the beginning of Vayikra. When we humble ourselves and the world then we reveal the inner essence of Hashem that the material world is rooted in. Only when we harmonize the physical and the spiritual world are we fulfilling the mission for which we were created.

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explains why Hashem wanted Klal Yisrael to avoid the Pelishtim as they left Mitzrayim, why the first Mitzvah Klal Yisrael received was freeing slaves and why on the precipice of entering Eretz Yisrael, Moshe Rabbeinu reminds Klal Yisrael of the fears they experienced when they left Mitzrayim. To be a slave in Mitzrayim means to lose all sense of dignity and agency over one's life. The process of taking Klal Yisrael out of Mitzrayim is restoring their dignity and giving them a sense of responsibility for their lives.

In this shiur, delivered in Sharfmans, Rav Burg uses several different aspects of the Mishkan to explore how we can build a relationship with Hashem.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains the deeper meaning of Yetzias Mitzrayim. More than just Hashem overpowering Pharaoh, Hashem took Klal Yisrael out from the womb of Mitzrayim and birthed us into a nation.

In this shiur, delivered at Mevaseret Mishmar "Unplugged" (last Mishmar of the Zman), Rav Burg shared a Vort from the Noviminsker Rebbe zt"l who explains why in the Mishkan they collected not only gold and silver but even copper. A Yeshiva is a place where even boys who don't obviously shine are a cherished part of the Yeshiva. Only when we value the copper Talmidim can we be considered a true Mishkan.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains the inner connection between Shabbos and the Mishkan. Our responsibility is to build a vessel and to relinquish control to Hashem that He will fill our vessel with Divine blessings. In this way we let go of the anxiety of taking responsibility for the outcome of Parnasa. At this level even our weekdays take on an element of Shabbos.