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

Chazal teach us that Moshe Rabbeinu was treated as a father to Aaron's children because he taught them Torah. But the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt"l (with a careful reading of Rashi) shows that we are meant not only to teach our children Torah but to give our encounter with the Divine.

This shiur, dedicated lilui nishmas the 45 kedoshim who passed away in Meron last year, explains how Rebbe Shimon lived an Olam Haba life while in this world. In such a world, there is no death. These insights help us negotiate a complex tension of celebrating Lag Ba’Omer even while still feeling deeply the tragedy of last year.

In this shiur Rav Burg explains why on Pesach we begin our journey with only Matzah and yet as soon as Pesach is over we return to Chametz. If Chametz is so bad why do we ever allow Chametz to be eaten? Furthermore, on Shavuos, not only do we allow for Chametz, we celebrate Chametz with the bringing of the shtei halechem. Rav Burg explains that Pesach, Sefiras Haomer and Shavuos represent the development of a healthy relationship with Hashem. Accordingly Chametz is asur at the beginning and celebrated at the end. (Fundamental insights into the nature of building our personal relationships are expressed as well.)

Speaking at the siyum of the Tomer Devorah DIF challenge, Rav and Rebbetzin Burg sat on a panel and reflected on various aspects of the topic of dignity.

The Megaleh Amukos connects the death of the 24000 talmidim of Rav Akiva to the 24000 that died in the plague after Klal Yisrael were mezaneh with the Bnos Moav and worshipped Baal Peor. The Arizal connects their death to the 24000 people of Shechem that Shimon and Levi killed in the aftermath of Dina being violated by Shechem. What is the connection between these events? At first glance it seems that the only connection is the fact that there were 24000 deaths. In this shiur Rav Burg explains how these events are connected and how each moment of our lives is designed for us to to transform disgrace into dignity.

In this shiur Rav Burg explains why we begin the seder with an invitation to others when we are already home and no one will hear our invitation. There are two ways to participate in a relationship: 1. Doing what the other wants 2. Creating a safe space for them to "be". Which comes first? This is the subject of a dispute between Rabban Gamliel and Rav Elazar ben Azaryah.

In this shiur Rav Burg explains the inner meaning behind why tzaras is white, why we go to a Kohen to be diagnosed and why that Kohen must be in the Beis HaMikdash. The world is created with speech and through the medium of speech we can tap in or break off from our connection to Hashem.

The Haggadah begins with the order of the seder. This order (Kadesh Urchatz etc...) contains fifteen steps. This not simply a table of contents but a roadmap to freedom. Pesach/Nissan is not only a time of national redemption but of our individual redemption as well. In this shiur, Rav Burg explores each of the fifteen steps and how we can free ourselves from ourselves.

In this shiur Rav Burg explains how believing the soul means believing in a unique self.