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

In this shiur, delivered at the first ever Chizzuk Mission shiur in Los Angeles, Rav Burg discusses why the Torah was given first to women and then afterwards to the men. Only when our children are first given the space to discover who they are can they become something even greater. Even when we are acting in a masculine fashion and putting our imprint on our children, there must be a feminine quality to the way in which we allow our children to become who they truly are.

In this shiur, delivered in the Valley in Los Angeles, Rav Burg discusses the inner nature of the Mitzvah of Yibum. Our responsibility in this world is to restore the name of Hashem which has been hidden since creation. When Avraham Avinu took on the responsibility of his brother's legacy in a completely selfless fashion he made himself into the person that Hashem could rely upon to restore His legacy in this world.

link to sources: www.sefaria.org/sheets/566624

In this shiur, delivered to the Chizzuk Mission on zoom, Rav Burg explores the true nature of Torah and why the nations of the world were afraid to accept the Torah. With a fixed mindset and the fear of change they were unable to let go of who they were in order to become something more. When we engage Torah it allows us to transform into our truest self and allows our unique individual self to be expressed in this world.

In this shiur, delivered in Sharfmans, Rav Burg explains the paradox of accepting the Torah with both humility and pride. The Torah was given on the smallest mountain which indicates that we must accept the Torah with humility and yet the Torah was also given on a mountain which indicates that their must be an element of pride as well. Rav Burg explains how we are meant to live with this paradoxical tension and how both humility and pride are necessary in building a relationship with Hashem.

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah (last shiur of the year), Rav Burg explains how Shemita and Yovel rectify the sin of Kayin and Hevel. As one journeys through the story of Kayin and Hevel to Lemech and his wives and four children and finally to Shes and his ultimate descendant Noach it becomes clear that the narrative is about the loss of Tzelem Elokim and the dangers of living in an animal society. Ultimately a society that loses its awareness of its own Godliness will destroy itself. Shemita and Yovel bring us back to true freedom and restore our Godly dignity.

Link to sources: www.sefaria.org/sheets/565875

In this shiur, delivered in Darchei Binah, Rav Burg explains how the nature of Torah is that it changes us. Only through Torah can we move from animal to Godly and therefore Torah must play a central role in our lives. The challenge of Torah is visualizing ourselves at Kabbalas HaTorah. It is difficult to believe that we are truly capable of change.

Link for sources: www.sefaria.org/sheets/565776

In this shiur, the final shiur of the year in Sharfmans, Rav Burg explores (based on a sicha from the Lubavitcher Rebbe) why the Eved Canaani is able to eat from the Terumah of the Kohen as opposed to the Eved Ivri and how this Halacha relates to our lives. When we are in complete submission to Hashem we are allowed to eat from the fruits of this world and it informs the way we relate to the world around us.

Source sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/565089

On the first episode of “Conversations” in Yeshivat Mevaseret, Zev Bosin, Akiva Schanzer, Eli Schuckman sat down with Rav Burg to discuss a variety of topics. Some of the topics discussed on the podcast that stand out are the subjects of Hopefulness vs. Hopelessness, our reality is not THE truth but it’s OUR truth, along with some other fascinating conversations.