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 19, 2023 Parshas Tazria/Metzorah - Tahor, Tahor
In this shiur, based on a sicha from the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt"l, Rav Burg explains the concepts of Ratzo and Shov, three perspectives as to how Hashem relates to creation and how Rabbah Bar Nachmeini was able to see the purity in every single Jew, even those who were persecuting him.
48 min
March 27, 2023 Pesach - Arrogance: Confronting the Essence of Pharaoh
In this shiur, delivered to the Nshei of Neve Shamir, Rav Burg explains the Zohar HaKadosh which speaks about Moshe Rabbeinu confronting the inner essence of Pharaoh, namely arrogance. Arrogance is built on the impoverished mentality that we are not enough and allows us to do despicable things to uphold this false notion of self. On a deeper level, even our arrogance comes from the Divine but it is a misappropriation. Once we realize that everything comes from Hashem, even our arrogance, redemption occurs.
56 min
March 22, 2023 Vayikra - The Essential Ingredient for Shalom Bayis - Humility
Question - If Rebbe were to give shiur about things to keep in mind and be conscious of when building a home of shalom bayis what would be the number one thing that Rebbe would speak about? What is that one factor that will create a strong home of Shalom Bayis?
In this shiur, Rav Burg answers this question by examining the enlarged Beis in the word Bereishis and the small Aleph in the word Vayikra.
True humility means stepping up to the call of the mission for which we were created (to sustain the world) and stepping back to create space for another in our lives.
48 min
March 20, 2023 Vayikra - Bringing Out the Essence of the Animal Soul
Every single korban has salt in it but none are allowed to have yeast or honey (with the exception of the shtei halachem on Shavuos). The Rambam explains that the Torah did not allow honey or yeast because that is what the baalei avodah zarah used for their sacrifices. What does this mean for us? In this shiur (delivered at Stern College) Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of sacrifice and how through salting the korban we bring out the inner essence of the animal soul - the desire for Godliness.

48 min
March 19, 2023Pesach - Mapping a Course to Freedom
As the beginning of Maggid, Ha Lachma Anya contains within it all of Maggid. And yet it is a section of the Haggadah that makes very little sense.
In contrast to the rest of the Haggadah it is written in Aramaic. Why?

Ha Lachma Anya does not seem to have anything to do with Maggid. Why is it placed there?

This is not the bread that our forefathers ate in Mitzrayim, it's the food that they ate when they left Mitzrayim?

The Magen Avraham says that we ought to say "This is "like" the food that they ate..." but the Mogen Avraham says lo hifsid if we say it according to our current girsa. Why doesn't the Magen Avraham mandate that we say "like"? Why does he allow the current girsa? He even makes it sound like it is correct and that we have lost nothing by saying the current girsa?

This is obviously not an invitation - that should have happened in Shul. At the very least before Kiddush so that the person being invited could have had the first cup of wine. The door is not even opened!

What's the difference between those who are hungry and those who are needy?

What does it mean to invite some to celebrate Pesach with us? They can't join us in the Korban Pesach, it's too late! They have to be included before the Korban was shechted.

What's the difference between now we are here and now we are slaves?

What's the connection between all three of these things?
In this shiur, delivered in Monsey, Rav Burg explains how we are still in Egypt and the process of leaving Mitzrayim is the story of our entire history. Ha Lachma Anya is a road map for how we leave Mitzrayim. 1 - We recognize our state of being in Mitzrayim. 2 - We realize that we are part of something larger than ourselves. We contribute to those who are in need. We recognize how we are needed in the world. 3 - We hold on to the hope and vision of redemption being both physical and essential.
58 min
March 15, 2023 Parshas Vayakel - Mirror Mirror
The washstand in the Mishkan was made of the hand mirrors that the women used in Mitzrayim to ensure the continuity of Klal Yisrael. Moshe Rabbeinu was reluctant to use these mirrors but Hashem said they were most precious to Him. What was the machlokes between Moshe and Hashem. Why were these mirrors so precious? In this shiur Rav Burg explains how the way we we look at things is what makes them last. It influences the way we act in this world. Only when the Kohanim washed their hands and feet in the kiyor made from these mirrors could they bring atonement to Klal Yisrael.
34 min
March 01, 2023 Parshas Tetzaveh - Pomegranate Jews: The Beauty of Imperfection
Based on a sicha from the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt"l, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of bells and pomegranates on the hem of the clothing of the Kohen Gadol. True leaders know that they cannot be safe in the Kodesh Hakedoshim if they do not represent every single Jew, including those who make a lot of noise. The pomegranates stand alone (according to Rashi) to show that even in our state of imperfection there is beauty in our struggle.
46 min
February 27, 2023 Purim - The Joy of Incompletion
In this shiur, delivered to the Chizzuk Mission in Aish HaTorah, Rav Burg explains how even though we remained servants of Achashverosh (which is why we don't say Hallel), we still celebrate Purim because we found the joy within our state of incompleteness. True joy comes from finding the completion within the incompletion. But there is great vulnerability in admitting that we are incomplete and that takes a tremendous amount of honesty and courage.
59 min
February 22, 2023 Parshas Terumah - Holy Foolishness: Achieving the Impossible
Yaakov Avinu took with him the Atzei Shitim from Eretz Canaan to Mitzrayim in order the Klal Yisrael should have the wood in order to build the Mishkan and the Aron. Why did he not just instruct them to take the Atzei Shitim from Mitzrayim? Or better yet, just take them from the Midbar and not have to carry them throughout the desert?
In this shiur Rav Burg explores the part of us that is foolish. On the one hand we can fall into the foolishness of sin and on the other hand we can be so foolish as to believe in and achieve the impossible. A Jew must take the Atzei Shitim, tress of folly, from Eretz Yisrael so that they may have hope in Mitzrayim and build a dwelling place for Hashem down below.
43 min
February 09, 2023 Parshas Yisro - Excitement vs Inspiration
When Yisro joins Moshe Rabbeinu in the desert, Moshe relays all of the happenings that occurred to Klal Yisrael. This despite the fact that the passuk already tells us that Yisro had heard everything. Why did Moshe tell Yisro what he already knew? What was being added?
Rashi tells us that Yisro heard about the splitting of the sea and the war with Amalek. This is difficult to understand since the passuk tells us that Yisro heard everything that happened. Why do Chazal highlight these two events?
In this shiur Rav Burg explains that difference between excitement and inspiration. Excitement does not last but true inspiration which comes from relevant education lasts a life time.
34 min