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 05, 2019 Parshas Tazria - Redemption of the Metzora
Chazal teach us that the name of Mashiach is the leper. Why would Mashiach have such a strange name?
Only the Kohen can declare someone afflicted with tzaras to be pure or impure. Why? Would it not make more sense to have the chacham who actually knows the halacha be the one who makes the declaration?
In this shiur, Rav Burg expounds upon the notion that it is our worst parts that can bring us redemption. The secret is seeing even our most difficult personality traits with love and compassion. We all carry within ourselves an inner Metzora that is standing outside the gates but ultimately they will bring us the message of Mashiach's arrival.
47 min
April 02, 2019 Dignity In Focus
Last night Rav Burg was invited to speak at a special event at Tomer Devorah in honor of those girls that spent a month working on the concept of focusing on leading a dignified life. Being a tzanua means much more than buttoning another button; it is seeing the world in a Godly way even in the privacy of our own homes when no one else is around. The dignity with which we hold ourselves is a communication to the world around us. It allows us to be seen for our true beauty, one that does not objectify us. Learn more about the true concept of tznius as we journey through the life of Sarah Imeinu to discover the richness of leading a focused and dignified life.
36 min
March 29, 2019 Parshas Shemini - The Great Debate Between Fins and Scales
For thousands of years Jews have been persecuted where ever they went. As strangers in a strange land we have never been fully accepted into our host country for extended periods of time. How do we cope with this challenge? Some say that we need to close off from the society around us and live in our own ghettos. Others say we need to leave our Judaism behind and assimilate into the culture around us. If we remain in the ghetto and don't share God's message with the world around us, what are we here for? On the other hand if we assimilate we certainly won't be capable of sharing God's message. What is a Jew to do? The Torah is replete with beautiful messages hidden in plain sight. Based on a lesson from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rav Burg uses the kashrus simanim of a fish to offer an approach as to how a Jew ought to navigate the modern world in which we live.
46 min
March 29, 2019 Parshas Shemini - I Can't Live Without You
Nadav and Avihu were two of the greatest Tzaddikim of their generation. In a strange story, the Torah tells us that they died upon bringing Ketores that they were not commanded to bring. Is this sin punishable by death? Why were they consumed by a fire from Heaven? In this shiur, Rav Burg teaches the inner meaning of this story and expounds upon what it means to build a passionate relationship with Hashem.
40 min
March 18, 2019 Alei Shur - 12
Based on Rav Wolbe's classic Alei Shur Rav Burg explores Shaar Shlishi - the chapter that deals with knowing yourself.
37 min
March 18, 2019 Alei Shur - 11
Based on Rav Wolbe's classic Alei Shur Rav Burg explores Shaar Shlishi - the chapter that deals with knowing yourself.
40 min
March 18, 2019 Purim - Is This the Real Story?
Purim is a time of deep introspection. We learn to find Hashem in our lives. We are all living a story but is it the real story or just our narrative of the story? Learn how to choose which story you want to live in this inspiring shiur from Rav Burg
39 min
March 15, 2019 Chizzuk for the Mitzvah of Kibbud Av V'Eim
Question: There are certain times that are very difficult for me to have the reverence towards my parents that I know I am supposed to have. Do you have any advice (and chizzuk) on how to always have the utmost reverence for our parents?
6 min
March 15, 2019 Purim: Proud To Be a Jew
For thousands of years Jews throughout history have wanted nothing more than to be accepted by the world around us. The Purim story begins with a group of Jews who upon being invited to the feast of Achashverosh felt that they no longer had a need for a home of their own because they were finally assimilated enough to be accepted by the king. In this shiur from Rav Burg we explore topics including the truth about God and nature, how God is involved in our history and true Jewish pride.
54 min
March 14, 2019 Purim - Esther's Redemption
Why does Esther invite Achashverosh to a seuda? Why not just make her request to save Klal Yisrael right away? Why invite him to a second seuda? Esther HaMalkah understood the psychology of Achashverosh and Haman and she exploited it to save Klal Yisrael. In this epic tale we learn what happens when the fragile, paranoid, manipulative ego meets the infinite power of God.
47 min