Nitzotzos: Thoughts to keep your spark alive
546 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsShiurim and Divrei Chizzuk from our Mashpia Rav Burg and other inspirational speakers to light up our soul.
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Episodes
Shavuos - Finding Hashem in the Torah
May 24, 2023 17:14 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBIn this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explores the topic of seeing the sounds by Har Sinai. The Zohar HaKadosh takes this literally. The inner message of this teaching is that Yiddishkeit needs to be something visible and visceral. We cannot teach the menu of Shabbos without teaching the majesty of Shabbos. If we are going to be Hashem's loyal servants, when the mountain of Har Sinai is held over our heads and a deep hester panim has set in, we must be able to draw from the str...
Shavuos - When You Thought I Wasn't Looking
May 24, 2023 16:30 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBWhen we know deeply that we matter, that our actions matter, we are capable of doing incredible things. The Medrash teaches us that had Boaz known that his actions were being recorded he would have served Rus a fleishigs seuda. This was not because Boaz wanted to look good for eternity but because he did not know that his actions mattered eternally.
Shavuos - To Be a Part of God's Nation
May 23, 2023 04:20 - 53 minutes - 49.1 MBIn this shiur, delivered to the Nshei of Rechavia, Rav Burg explains (based on the Torah of the Nachlas Yosef) the first several Pesukim of Megillas Rus. Understanding the inner story of how Naomi came to be in Moav allows us to understand the heroism of her return to return to Eretz Yisrael. Indeed from her return comes Dovid HaMelech and ultimately Melech HaMashiach.
Shavuos - The Value of the Birchas HaTorah
May 21, 2023 18:16 - 49 minutes - 45.1 MBIn this shiur, delivered to the Nshei of Neve Shamir in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Rav Burg explores the concept of Chazal's explanation thatthe destruction of the Beis HaMidash was destroyed because of the fact that they did not make a Birchas HaTorah before davening. Could it be that they did not make a Birchas HaTorah before learning? Even if it did happen, is that something worthy of the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash? Wasn't the Beis HaMikdash destroye because of the big three aveiros? Exam...
Shavuos - Essence of Polarities (followed by a Q&A with Rav and Rebbetzin Burg)
May 21, 2023 14:06 - 53 minutes - 26.1 MBIn this shiur, delivered in Aish HaTorah to the Chizzuk Mission led by Barrie Feld, Rav Burg addresses how the physical and spiritual can be fused with each other only from the perspective of the essence. This concept can be used to understand how men and women can find each other in relationships. At the end of the shiur there is a question and answer from Rav and Rebbetzin Burg.
NCSY Staff Training
May 19, 2023 10:04 - 53 minutes - 26.3 MBIn this shiur, delivered in the Jerusalem Gold Hotel in Yerushalayim to NCSY Summer advisors, Rav Burg addresses the topic of Chinuch and how it is an expression of our Avodas Hashem. The shiur was followed by a question and answer session about practical topics regarding dealing with NCSY'ers in the summer.
Bamidbar - Ask Not What Hashem Can Do For You But What You Can Do For Hashem
May 17, 2023 16:38 - 52 minutes - 25.7 MBIn a consumeristic culture we have lost sight of what our relationship with Hashem is all about. In this shiur Rav Burg explains how we tend to "sell" Judaism to our youth rather than teach them that they have obligations and reponsibilities to participate in our relationship with Hashem. Each of us has a unique Godly soul and we are meant to contribute to this world.
Dignity in Focus Challenge (Tomer Devorah Awards Dinner) - Rav and Rebbetzin Burg (shiur plus Q&A)
May 15, 2023 18:52 - 57 minutes - 27.9 MBFor several years Tomer Devorah runs a DIF (Dignity in Focus) challenge that culminates with a dinner for the winners. The dinner is highlighted by a short shiur from Rav and Rebbetzin Burg on the topic of dignity and is followed by a Q&A on the topic of dignity. Rav Burg spoke about dignity as a shemira and Rebbetzin Burg spoke about Tznius as creating space for another.
Behar - Restored to Factory Settings
May 10, 2023 16:35 - 53 minutes - 25.9 MBIn this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explores the Mitzvah of Shemitta. Why does the Torah indicate that Shemitta was to be kept immediately upon entering Eretz Yisrael when in fact it was only kept seven years later? What is the inner connection between Matan Torah and Har Sinai? Why does the Torah record the question of those Jews who wondered what they would eat after the Shemitta year rather just giving the answer as the Torah generally does? Rav Burg explains the differenc...
Lag Ba’Omer and the Scent of Torah (full)
May 07, 2023 13:12 - 1 hour - 51.7 MBThis episode contains the full shiurim of Rav Aryeh Cohen and Rav Burg (previous uploads are missing a couple of minutes of Rav Burgs shiur) shiurim as well as a question and answer on a variety of topics.
Lag Ba'omer & The Scent Of Torah - A Woman's Calling in Torah (Rav Aryeh Cohen and Rav Burg) Pt. 2
May 07, 2023 04:06 - 50 minutes - 24.6 MBPart 2 of the shiurim on exploring a woman's role in Torah as we draw close to Shavuos and a question and answer with Rav Cohen and Rav Burg on a variety of topics.
Lag Ba'omer & The Scent Of Torah - A Woman's Calling in Torah (Rav Aryeh Cohen and Rav Burg) Pt. 1
May 07, 2023 03:10 - 58 minutes - 28.4 MBThese shiurim, delivered in Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, was a night of Chizzuk to explore the role of women as we draw close to Shavuos and Matan Torah. A special thank you to all sponsors. Shiur begins from Rav Cohen and is followed by Rav Burg at 41:30.
Emor - Loving Those Who Curse God
May 05, 2023 04:25 - 36 minutes - 17.7 MBIn this shiur, delivered on the NCSY staff training Shabbaton, Rav Burg explains the secret story behind the Mekalel and what led him to curse Hashem and scoff at the Lechem HaPanim. It is imperative for us to ensure that our children feel that they have a deep sense of belonging which leads them to see Hashem as a warm and safe place. The opposite Chas V'shalom can lead to cursing Hashem.
Lag Ba’Omer - True Achdus
May 05, 2023 01:21 - 52 minutes - 25.6 MBIn this shiur, delivered in Monsey, Rav Burg explains how Rav Shimon Bar Yochai, and the inner Torah which connects to the essence of all things, brings true Shalom to the world.
Emor - Structured for Success (Dealing With Real Life After Sem)
May 03, 2023 16:35 - 37 minutes - 18.5 MBIn this shiur, based on a Sicha from the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt"l, Rav Burg highlights the needs for structure in order to be successful. In the Beis HaMikdash the Kohanim were vigilant because the environment was permeated with Kedusha. Outside of the Beis HaMikdash, Moshe Rabbeinu ensured that they were overseen by the Beis Din in oder to ensure their continued vigilance in the area of Kedusha. While we have created wonderful structures for women today, we must do more to ensure their continu...
Sefiras HaOmer - Redeeming Jews From the Fitieth Level of Tumah
April 20, 2023 07:30 - 39 minutes - 19.3 MBIn this shiur, delivered in Mevaseret at the start of Kayitz Zman, Rav Burg explains how Moshe Rabbeinu wanted Rav Akiva to take the Jews out of Mitzrayim. Because Rav Akiva achieved understanding of the fiftieth level of Binah he was able to see through to the essence of even someone who had fallen into the lowest level of Tumah and to redeem them. Rav Burg explains how when we learn Torah we have to see not only the words of Torah but the crowns, the essence, that is within those words. Tru...
Parshas Tazria/Metzorah - Tahor, Tahor
April 19, 2023 16:33 - 47 minutes - 23.1 MBIn this shiur, based on a sicha from the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt"l, Rav Burg explains the concepts of Ratzo and Shov, three perspectives as to how Hashem relates to creation and how Rabbah Bar Nachmeini was able to see the purity in every single Jew, even those who were persecuting him.
Pesach - Arrogance: Confronting the Essence of Pharaoh
March 27, 2023 18:22 - 55 minutes - 27.3 MBIn this shiur, delivered to the Nshei of Neve Shamir, Rav Burg explains the Zohar HaKadosh which speaks about Moshe Rabbeinu confronting the inner essence of Pharaoh, namely arrogance. Arrogance is built on the impoverished mentality that we are not enough and allows us to do despicable things to uphold this false notion of self. On a deeper level, even our arrogance comes from the Divine but it is a misappropriation. Once we realize that everything comes from Hashem, even our arrogance, rede...
Vayikra - The Essential Ingredient for Shalom Bayis - Humility
March 22, 2023 17:33 - 47 minutes - 23.3 MBQuestion - If Rebbe were to give shiur about things to keep in mind and be conscious of when building a home of shalom bayis what would be the number one thing that Rebbe would speak about? What is that one factor that will create a strong home of Shalom Bayis? In this shiur, Rav Burg answers this question by examining the enlarged Beis in the word Bereishis and the small Aleph in the word Vayikra. True humility means stepping up to the call of the mission for which we were created (to sust...
Vayikra - Bringing Out the Essence of the Animal Soul
March 20, 2023 23:57 - 47 minutes - 22.9 MBEvery single korban has salt in it but none are allowed to have yeast or honey (with the exception of the shtei halachem on Shavuos). The Rambam explains that the Torah did not allow honey or yeast because that is what the baalei avodah zarah used for their sacrifices. What does this mean for us? In this shiur (delivered at Stern College) Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of sacrifice and how through salting the korban we bring out the inner essence of the animal soul - the desire for Godl...
Pesach - Mapping a Course to Freedom
March 19, 2023 15:41 - 57 minutes - 27.9 MBAs the beginning of Maggid, Ha Lachma Anya contains within it all of Maggid. And yet it is a section of the Haggadah that makes very little sense. In contrast to the rest of the Haggadah it is written in Aramaic. Why? Ha Lachma Anya does not seem to have anything to do with Maggid. Why is it placed there? This is not the bread that our forefathers ate in Mitzrayim, it's the food that they ate when they left Mitzrayim? The Magen Avraham says that we ought to say "This is "like" the food...
Parshas Vayakel - Mirror Mirror
March 15, 2023 17:16 - 33 minutes - 16.2 MBThe washstand in the Mishkan was made of the hand mirrors that the women used in Mitzrayim to ensure the continuity of Klal Yisrael. Moshe Rabbeinu was reluctant to use these mirrors but Hashem said they were most precious to Him. What was the machlokes between Moshe and Hashem. Why were these mirrors so precious? In this shiur Rav Burg explains how the way we we look at things is what makes them last. It influences the way we act in this world. Only when the Kohanim washed their hands and ...
Parshas Tetzaveh - Pomegranate Jews: The Beauty of Imperfection
March 01, 2023 17:29 - 45 minutes - 22.1 MBBased on a sicha from the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt"l, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of bells and pomegranates on the hem of the clothing of the Kohen Gadol. True leaders know that they cannot be safe in the Kodesh Hakedoshim if they do not represent every single Jew, including those who make a lot of noise. The pomegranates stand alone (according to Rashi) to show that even in our state of imperfection there is beauty in our struggle.
Purim - The Joy of Incompletion
February 27, 2023 14:18 - 58 minutes - 28.4 MBIn this shiur, delivered to the Chizzuk Mission in Aish HaTorah, Rav Burg explains how even though we remained servants of Achashverosh (which is why we don't say Hallel), we still celebrate Purim because we found the joy within our state of incompleteness. True joy comes from finding the completion within the incompletion. But there is great vulnerability in admitting that we are incomplete and that takes a tremendous amount of honesty and courage.
Parshas Terumah - Holy Foolishness: Achieving the Impossible
February 22, 2023 17:27 - 42 minutes - 20.5 MBYaakov Avinu took with him the Atzei Shitim from Eretz Canaan to Mitzrayim in order the Klal Yisrael should have the wood in order to build the Mishkan and the Aron. Why did he not just instruct them to take the Atzei Shitim from Mitzrayim? Or better yet, just take them from the Midbar and not have to carry them throughout the desert? In this shiur Rav Burg explores the part of us that is foolish. On the one hand we can fall into the foolishness of sin and on the other hand we can be so foo...
Parshas Yisro - Excitement vs Inspiration
February 09, 2023 18:24 - 33 minutes - 16.3 MBWhen Yisro joins Moshe Rabbeinu in the desert, Moshe relays all of the happenings that occurred to Klal Yisrael. This despite the fact that the passuk already tells us that Yisro had heard everything. Why did Moshe tell Yisro what he already knew? What was being added? Rashi tells us that Yisro heard about the splitting of the sea and the war with Amalek. This is difficult to understand since the passuk tells us that Yisro heard everything that happened. Why do Chazal highlight these two ev...
Parshas Yisro - Rational vs Suprarational Education
February 08, 2023 17:31 - 50 minutes - 24.4 MBIn 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 ...
Parshas Beshalach - Singing Yiddishkeit Back to Life
February 03, 2023 03:45 - 46 minutes - 75 MBRav 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...
Parshas Beshalach - Transforming Pharaoh
January 29, 2023 03:17 - 47 minutes - 22.7 MBWhy is the name of the Parsha Beshalach when there are so many aspects of the Parsha (Krias Yam Suf, the descent of the Mann and Milchemes Amalek) that seem to be more important? Why is it that Pharaoh needs to compel us to leave Mitzrayim? In this shiur, Rav Burg explains how we are brought down into this world to transform the Pharaoh in our lives. Additionally, only through being absolutely compelled to leave Mitzrayim have we truly gone free.
NCSY Staff Chizuk Shabbaton - Q&A with Rav Burg
January 27, 2023 19:51 - 53 minutes - 24.5 MBQ&A at Stern College
Parshas Bo - Becoming a Shliach for Hashem
January 25, 2023 17:12 - 30 minutes - 14.9 MBThe 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.
Parshas Vaera - Your Ego is Trying to Kill You
January 18, 2023 17:17 - 33 minutes - 16.5 MBEach 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.
Aish Kodesh 11 (Vayechi and Vaeira)
January 17, 2023 19:01 - 44 minutes - 21.7 MBIn 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 ...
Shemos - Becoming a Faithful Shepherd
January 12, 2023 18:30 - 38 minutes - 18.9 MBMoshe Rabbeinu wonders about the reason Klal Yisrael has not left Mitzrayim. Initially he believes that Klal Yisrael needs a warrior to teach them their strength but ultimately he learns that the reason Klal Yisrael has not left Mitzrayim is because of their lack of Achdus. To redeem Klal Yisrael Moshe Rabbeinu must learn to become a shepherd, taking care of the young sheep that has strayed from the rest of the flock. In this shiur Rav Burg explains the three lessons that Moshe Rabbeinu learn...
Shemos - Holy Chutzpah
January 11, 2023 17:18 - 34 minutes - 16.5 MBThere are various opinions regarding the origin of Moshe Rabbeinu's name. There are those that maintain that it is a Hebrew name while others maintain that it is an Egyptian name. If Klal Yisrael is redeemed in the merit of not changing their names, how could Moshe Rabbeinu himself have an Egyptian name? In this shiur Rav Burg explains the true nature of golus. A light descends into the darkness of golus to emerge greater than before. The Chutzpah of Pharaoh gives rise to an even greater and ...
Parshas Vayechi - The History of the World in 12 Steps
January 05, 2023 18:25 - 36 minutes - 17.7 MBBased on brilliant and novel insight the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt'l, Rav Burg explains how each name of the parshios of Bereishis represents another stage in the development of the history of the world.
Vayechi - We Are Not Our Lowest Moments
January 04, 2023 17:21 - 34 minutes - 16.6 MBThe challenge of parenting in today's generation may feel enormous. Yosef HaTzaddik teaches us that even in the most difficult circumstances we are all capable of raising children like Menashe and Ephraim. Our children have two parts: Menashe - the parts they would like to forget and Ephraim - the parts they value. In this shiur, based on the Degel Machaneh Ephraim, Rav Burg explains how we must parent our children to know that the Menashe part of them is not who they truly are. And rather th...