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

Based on Rav Wolbe's classic Alei Shur Rav Burg explores Shaar Shlishi - the chapter that deals with knowing yourself.

So much of Lag BaOmer is confusing. Why are we celebrating the death of Rashbi? What's the inner connection between the death of 24,000 of Rebbe Akivas talmidim and the death of Rashbi? What does Kabbalah even mean? In this shiur Rav Burg explains the Minhag to play with bows and arrows on Lag BaOmer and how we can reveal the inner essence of every single Jew.

Delivered at the NCSY Summer Staff Training Shabbaton Rav Burg discusses what true leadership looks like. Why was Moshe Rabbeinu not allowed into Eretz Yisrael simply because he hit the rock? Why did he have to hit it twice to make it work? In this shiur Rav Burg explains tow different forms of leadership, authoritative and communicative. Knowing who we are speaking with and what they need is what defines a great leader.

Technology plays an important role in our lives. Without technology you wouldn't be able to listen to these shiurim! At the same time we cannot ignore the dangers and challenges that technology presents. How do we negotiate the technological revolution that our generation is living through? In this shiur Rav Burg addresses the talmidot of Tomer Devorah who were given the opportunity to disconnect to connect. The shiur, in which Rav Burg presents three approaches to technology, is about half an hour long and is followed by a question and answer with the girls.

Question: I find it is easy to pour out my out my heart to G-d if needed yet really feel like I need guidance in how to have day in day out conversation with G-d

The Torah teaches us that we are not allowed to cut ourselves (as the idolaters do) as a sign of mourning. From the very same passuk Chazal darshen that we are not allowed to separate ourselves from the community. What's the inner connection between these two ideas? In this shiur Rav Burg teaches us how to reframe our lives from the perspective of God and be true to ourselves no matter where we are.

The story of Peter Pan and Captain Hook is the story of two different ways of coping with time. Peter Pan refuses to grow up and ignores the reality of time. Captain Hook is oppressed by time which results in his tyranny. How does a Jew view time? How can we engage our world without being afraid of the inevitable time? Sefiras HaOmer teaches us how a Jew brings timeless talents to the world of time.