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

Tisha B'Av is a challenging time. We are asked to mourn for a Beis HaMikdash we have never seen. We say kinnos that are difficult to understand and that contain references with which we are unfamiliar. We live in an age where we are so blessed to have so much. The pain of losing the Beis HaMikdash is difficult to tap into. In this shiur, delivered at NCSY Kollel (introducing Kinnos) Rav Burg explains how our failure to yearn gives birth to the greatest yearning.

The Ir Miklat was a city of refuge for those who murdered accidentally. According to the sefarim hakedoshim the sinner who cuts himself off from Hashem in some ways can be considered like a murderer. The sinners desire to run to the Ir Miklat is an expression of the desire to do Teshuva and be saved from the goel hadam, the Satan who is chasing after him. In this shiur, delivered at NCSY Kollel Mishmar, Rav Burg explores the various halachos of the Ir Miklat and the relevance to us in our life.

In this shiur, delivered in NCSY Michlelet, Rav Burg analyzes why at the end of Klal Yisrael's journey through the midbar Moshe Rabbeinu reminds Klal Yisrael of all of the times that they angered Hashem. Shouldn't we have ended on a positive note? In truth, at the end of the journey, we are in a perfect position to finally understand that even the "downs" were a necessary part of the process.

Three times in the Torah לה is spelled without a mapik hey (a dot in the middle of the hey). The final passuk in this week's Parsha is one of those times. Rashi, quoting Rav Moshe HaDarshan explains that without the mapik hey the word can also be read לא. In this context it would indicate that while Novach did conquer Knas and name it after himself, ultimately the name of the city did not last. The question is, why is this an important idea for the Torah to convey? What is the eternal message being communicated to us? In this shiur (delivered on NCSY KOLLEL during Mishmar) Rav Burg explores why Torah is compared to fire, the importance of serving Hashem with love, how we can develop true passion for Torah and why only through passion is our Yidishkeit sustained.

In this shiur the Aish Kodesh presents a daring exploration of how Hashem fulfills the entire Torah, including the mitzvah of teshuva. How can Hashem do teshuva if he can't sin? How can Hashem regret something if He is perfect? The Aish Kodesh explains that Hashem regrets, so to speak, the pain that he has caused Klal Yisrael. Full Teshuva is not only limited to causing Klal Yisrael no more tzaros but a full restoration to our destiny. Furthermore, the Aish Kodesh explains that we are obligated to do teshuva in the same fashion. It is not enough to stop sinning, we must become growth oriented people. In so doing the movement down below creates an awakening from above and will bring salvation to Klal Yisrael.

In this week's Parsha we find the mitzvah of the korban tamid. The Medrash says that this mitzvah captures the essence of the Torah. Why? Furthermore, why is this mitzvah juxtaposed to the appointment of Yehoshua bin Nun. Rashi explains that it comes to teach us that while Moshe was concerned about the future leadership of Klal Yisrael, Hashem asks Moshe, who will take care of me when you are gone? This is a shocking Rashi! Is Hashem lacking? Why is Hashem concerned for Himself so to speak? In this shiur, quoting the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rav Burg explores the topic of Hashem's perfection and how each and every Jew infinitely matters.

In this final segment of the derasha on Rosh Hashanah the Aish Kodesh addresses the issue of the prosecuting angels that challenge the veracity of our teffilos and teshuva. Are we really crying out to connect to Hashem or are we just trying to solve our pain? Are we doing Teshuva because we really mean it, or are we doing teshuva because that's what Yidden do at this time of the year? The Aish Kodesh assures us that when we sincerely cry out to Hashem from a place of yishuv hadaas, Hashem silences the prosecuting angels and returns us to Him. In that context even our personal requests to be removed from our state of pain are considered a praise to Hashem.

This week's Parsha is a master class on how to respond when you find yourself in a chaotic relationship. Korach is the archetypal narcissist who seeks to control others. While he appears to have a noble mission, in truth it is just a way of elevating himself. Moshe Rabbeinu's response teaches us how we ought to behave when we find ourselves in similar situations. In this shiur Rav Burg explains how we develop a healthy sense of self, the repercussions of falling out of self, and how to engage in an appropriate fashion when interacting with someone who tries to subsume you within their being.