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

By NitzotzosReligion & Spirituality Judaism

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

April 03, 2024 Shemini - Living in the Present
In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains the connection between Nadav and Avihu being intoxicated and bringing an Eish Zara, a strange fire. Only when we accept the present moment as it is, without seeking to diminish or enhance it to avoid our own discomfort, can we truly be connected to reality. For this reason Ahron chose stillness as a response to thd death of his sons and as a reward he was able to engage directly with Hashem.
32 min
April 03, 2024 Shemini - Jealousy, Resentment, Story Telling and Fear
In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explains the inner connection between the inauguration of the Mishkan, the Cheit HaEigel and the selling of Yosef down to Mitzrayim. The fear of losing their relationship with their father caused the Shevatim to tell themselves to tell a story about Yosef that led to their own resentment. This resentment led to the jealousy that ultimately resulted in Yosef's sale. This story was passed down for generations and ultimately led to the Cheit HaEigel. In order to inaugurate the Mishkan, Klal Yisrael needed to get to the root of their disunity and rectify the sale of Yosef.
42 min
April 01, 2024 Defining Dignity
In this shiur (plus questions and answers), Rav and Rebbetzin Burg explain the nature of dignity and how we can lead more dignified lives.
58 min
March 27, 2024 Tzav - Anchored in the Past, Living in the Present
In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of the Terumas Hadeshen and the Hotza’as Hadeshen. The Terumas Hadeshen reminds us that our parents and grandparents etc... built the community that we now inhabit. This obligates us to build our community for the next generation just as those who came befoe us did. The Hotza’as Hadeshen teaches us that each days Avodah in the Beis HaMikdash begins anew. We must confront the challenges that we face today and live in the present rathet than getting stuck in the past.
34 min
March 27, 2024 Tzav - Keeping Your Fire Aflame
In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explains why although the Aish on the Mizbeach comes from Hashem, the Kohen had to light the fire in the morning. And athough the fire comes from Hashem, we are instructed to protect it when we travel. The nature of life is engaging with suffering but a Jew is thankful for the suffering they endure because that's how we discover Hashem. It will always rain on our fire but we are assured that our fire can never be extinguished. Our job is to chop the wood and protect the fire.
43 min
March 21, 2024 Purim - Letting Go Of The Known
In this shiur, delivered in Sharfmans, Rav Burg explains why:
1. We are not Yotzei when we read the Megillah backwards.
2. We are obligated to drink until we don't know the difference between Arur Hama and Baruch Mordechai.
Who would read the Megillah backwards? Why would we want to get so drunk that we can't distinguish between a Tzaddik and a Rasha?
Only when we let go of using knowledge as power and control do we come to accept reality as it is. And once we accept reality as it is it is quite possible that the exact thing we thought was hurting us was our greatest asset.

34 min
March 20, 2024 Vayikra - Korbanos: Giving the Gift of Ourselves to Hashem
In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains (based on a shiur from Rav Ahron Lopiansky shlit"a) the inner nature of a Korban. A Korban is not a sacrifice, it is a gift that we give to Hashem and the gift that Hashem wants from us is not merely our service but our passion.

34 min
March 20, 2024 Purim - The Anxiety and Faith of Tomorrow
In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explores our battle with Amalek. Purim is the Yom Tov that remains even after Yemos HaMashiach. Amalek is the battle that we fight in every generation. Esther HaMalka asks Achashverosh to have another Seuda tomorrow. It seem that everything in our battle with Amalek is future oriented. For Amalek there is no tomorrow and for a Jew tomorrow is an expression of our faith in an assured future.

39 min
March 14, 2024 Purim - Sleeping Through Our Relationship With Hashem
In this shiur, delivered to the Chizzuk Mission in Aish HaTorah, Rav Burg explains the inner connection between sleeping through our performance of the Mitzvos and our connection with each and every Jew. Only when we are deeply connected to the soul of Torah and Mitzvos can we be deeply connected to each other. Only when we are connected to the soul do we merit protection from Hashem.

47 min
March 13, 2024 Pikudei - The Power of Desire
In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains how through our desire we discover hidden talents within ourselves. When we have desire Hashem gives us the vessels that we need to be successful.

41 min