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

In order to marry Tzipporah, Moshe Rabbeinu makes a deal with Yisro to give his first born child to Avodah Zara. How couold Moshe have done this? Are we not obligated to give our lives in order to avoid serving idols? Not only does this go against the Torah but it is against the Sheva Mitzvos Bnei Noach as well! 

In this shiur, Rav Burg explains two methods of raising our children: Rational - exposing our children to everything and showing them the logical truth of Judaism vs Suprarational - raising our children to believe that there is a truth that transcends logic, a truth that goes beyond our rational minds. 

Rav Burg began this shiur by asking four questions:

1. We sang Shira in the zechus of our Emunah. What is the connection between our emunah and singing?

2. Az Yashir is the source for techias hameisim in the Torah. What is the connection between techias hameisim and singing?

3. Every morning we sing Az Yashir in Pesukei D'zimra. P"D is about praise and thanksgiving for the greatness of Hashem. Az Yashir does not fit this theme.

4. The Gemara in Megillah (16b) teaches that the sections of the Torah involving Shirah need to be written “ariach al gabei leveinah” the script of the line above is written over the empty space of the line below it, in a bricklaying pattern. Rashi comments that there is actually more empty space than words in the Shirah – more blanks than writing. What is the inner significance of this format?

Rav Burg explains that Judaism has a body and a soul. The halacha is the body but emunah is the soul. Through our connection to the soul of Yiddishkeit, not only can we survive in Golus but we can even sing.  

The Halachos of Shlucho Shel Adam Kamoso is learned out from the Parsha of Korban Pesach. Why specifically this Parsha?

Moshe Rabbeinu is the ultimate Shliach of Hashem and yet he is at first hesitant to accept the mission. Why?

In this shiur, Rav Burg explains how if we want to leave the Mitzrayims of our lives and experience true redemption we must transcend our own ego and nullify ourselves to Hashem. In this way we become true emissaries of Hashem in this world.

Each of the ten Makkos that destroyed Mitzrayim taught invaluable lessons about the dysfunctionality of Mitzrayim. In this shiur, based on a sicha from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rav Burg explores the Makka of Barad, hail. The unique nature of the hail  in Mitzrayim was that it was fire covered in ice. Why did Hashem create the hail in this fashion? We must make sure in life not just to engage the cold exterior but to rectify the fire of the ego that burns within the coldness of a person.

In this shiur Rav Burg gave over two pieces from the Aish Kodesh.

Vayechi - In this piece the Aish Kodesh teaches us how Yaakov Avinu being "blocked off" from revealing the end of days to his children was actually a sign of the redemption itself. When the damage of Golus reaches cosmic levels Hashem will surely bring the Geula.

Vaeira - In this piece the Aish Kodesh teaches us the difference between chein, chesed and rachamim. Chein and Chesed have nothing to do with being judged. We find grace in Hashem's eyes not because we are worthy or unworthy but simply because. Similarly, Hashem does Chesed for us because he is the ultimate Baal Chesed, not because we are deserving. When it comes to Rachamim, mercy, we are in a state of judgement and Hashem finds something within us that we can be deserving of His mercy. Moshe Rabbeinu is commanded to treat Klal Yisrael gently because Pharaoh was working Klal Yisrael to death. In such a state they needed chein and chesed, not rachamim.