Nitzotzos: Thoughts to keep your spark alive

In this shmooze, delivered at Mevaseret Mishmar, Rav Burg explains why we would consider Noach a "nothing" when the Torah describes him as a Tzaddik. We project on to others what we believe about ourselves.

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explains the psychology of the Dor HaMabul and how Noach teaches us how stay in self when everything around you is falling apart.

In this very raw and real conversation, Rav Burg speaks with a close Talmid who has spent the last two years at war. They explore his various experiences, the psychology of being a soldier and what it is like transitioning back home now that there is a ceasfire.

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explains the story of Kayin and Hevel. We can choose to take responsibility for our relationships or we can choose blame and shame. Only through real accountability can we begin to live our true lives and live wholeheartedly.

In this shiur, delivered in Sharfmans, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of the light of creation. Sometimes what we can see makes us distant from the soulfulness of life.

In this shiur, delivered in Yeshivat HaKotel on Hoshana Rabbah, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of seeing our shadow on Hoshana Rabbah in light of the return of the hostages. There is singing in the beginning of the shiur, the shiur begins around 8 minutes in.

In this shiur, delivered in RBS to BMB, Rav Burg explains why Yom Kippur is a day of incredible Simcha. Even the holiest person, in the holiest place, at the holiest time might sin if it wasn't for a miracle. The Simcha is the knowledge that we are innocent!

In this shiur, delivered in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Rav Burg explains how we are meant tkto find Hashem in the most painful moments of our lives.

In this inaugural shiur in Tomer Devorah Rav Burg explains how the Torah may in fact be in the Heavens and if it were we could ascend to the Heavens to learn it. The Torah (and Teshuva) may appear to be distant but it is in fact closer than we can possibly imagine.

In this shiur, delivered at Aish Gesher for Women, Rav Burg explains what it means to stand before Hashem as our simple and authentic essence on Rosh Hashana.

In this shiur, delivered to the Chizuk Mission via zoom, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of the birth of Chava and how the Shofar rectifies the sin of Adam and Chava at its root.

In this inaugural shiur in Sharfmans, Rav Burg explains why a failure to serve Hashem with joy results in the curses of the Tochacha.

In this shiur, the inaugural shiur of the year in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of the connection between Bikkurim and entering into Eretz Yisrael.

In thus shmooze, delivered at Mevaseret Mishmar, Rav Burg explains (based on the Chasam Sofer) why Dovid HaMelech did not understand that Avshaloms coup could be attributed to his mother, a Yefas Toar.

In this shmooze, delivered at the first Mevaseret Mishmar of the year, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of the Egla Arufa. When we feel that our life is not worth fighting for that's when we lose our battles. When we feel the love that is coursing through our blood for generations, we can conquer anything.

In this shiur, delivered at the last Mishmar of the summer on NCSY Kollel, Rav Burg explains why Moshe Rabbeinu asked for matnas chinam, why he so longed to enter into Eretz Yisrael and why he gazed upon Yerushalayim and Har Habyis.

In this short shmooze, Rav Burg explains how we transition from the morning of Tisha B'Av where we sit in Aveilus to the afternoon of Tisha B'Av where we prepare to greet Mashiach.

In this shmooze, delivered in NCSY Kollel on Tisha B'Av morning, Rav Burg explains that the darkness IS the light but you have to be willing to stare unflinchingly at the darkness to see it.

In this shmooze, delivered at NCSY Kollel Mishmar, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of the story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza.

In this shmooze, delivered at NCSY Kollel Mishmar, Rav Burg explains the missing one thousand soldiers from the pesukim. We are not impoverished, we are empowered.

In this shmooze, delivered at NCSY Kollel Mishmar, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of the Hey and the Yud that were added to the names of the families. We are forever Hashem's children.

In this shiur, delivered in Michlelet, Rav Burg addresses how we can live in the duality of our victory over Iran and the tragic loss of Moishy Noll HY"D. It is our responsibility to discover the oneness we have with Hashem even when it appears that we are so distant from Him. Then we will realize everything is already good.

In this shiur, delivered to the Chizuk Mission on Zoom, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of a lion in Yiddishkeit. We are now being called upon to rise up and reveal the inner lion that we each have within ourselves.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains why we must desire Eretz Yisrael and the consequences of despising it. Contempt is the greatest predictor of divorce. If we despise Eretz Yisrael there is no hope for our relationship with Hashem.

In this shiur, delivered at Yeshivat HaKotel, Rav Burg explains the desire of the Meraglim, the mistake kfof the Maapilim and why adding a Yud to Yehoshua's name made all the difference. Are we guests in Hashem's home or are we the owners? How we show up to Eretz Yisrael means everything.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains the inner connection between the Mitzvos of Mila and Kesuba. It is far easier to cut something or someone off than it is to create unity with someone who is your polar opposite.

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of the Isha Sotah and how we are redeemed only when the feminine influence on our world is revealed.

In this shmooze, delivered at the final Mevaseret Mishmar of the year, Rav Burg explains the inner the nature of Shalom and how it contains all of the Bracha in our lives.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains the connection between the control that a man exerts over a Kohen and bowhow thaythat controlling behavior impacts his marriage. Someone who has deep Emuna is deeply connected to themselves, firmly planted in their own soil, and therefore they have no need or desire to control others.

In this shmooze, delivered at Mevaseret Mishmar, Rav Burg explains the inner connection between the cutting of the grain and Shavuos. On Shavuos Hashem gives us the Torah but it is up to us to take responsibility for receiving the Torah.

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explains why Shevet Dan had significantly more people than Shevet Binyamin despite the fact that Dan had only one child and Binyamin had ten. When we raise our children, especially those who have challenges, to believe that they are awesome, they can live beyond their natural limitations.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of the Maamar Chazal that says that Nadav aneand Avihu sinned because they did not have children. When we have an outlet for our creativity, we have a greater capacity for surrender.

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explains the inner connection between Ameilus B'Torah and Shemita.

In this shiur, delivered in Sharfmans, Rav Burg explains why the ultimate punishment is not for our anger with Hashem but with our apathy.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains why when we fail to return someone's greeting we are robbing them of their dignity and sending them on a downwards spiral.

In this shiur, delivered in Aish HaTorah to the Chizuk Mission, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of Matan Torah. At Matan Torah there was no echo because all of the world revealed itself to be an expression of the Dvar Hashem. Though the world reverted back to its previous state, it years to be its authentic self. Our mission is to reveal the true essence of everything in this world. Though the world in its fragmented state clings to us in a way that we feel drags us down, it does so because it yearns to be connected to Hashem. This is true not only of the material world but even of the broken parts of ourselves.

In this shmooze, delivered at the joint Mevaseret/Shaalvim Lag Ba'Omer event, Rav Burg explains how Rav Akiva was able to begin again even after he lost 24000 talmidim. Rav Shimon Bar Yochai reveals that even unimaginable suffering can be a gift when used correctly.

In this shiur, delivered in Sharfmans, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of the Kohen Baal Mum. Sometimes we feel like a Kohen, chosen for a greater mission. Sometimes we feel like a Baal Mum, like we are damaged goods. A foreigner, unworthy of doing the Avodah in the Beis HaMikdash. The Kohen Baal Mum asks the question, Hashem why did you make me feel so distant from You?!? The answer to this question lies in the essence of Shavuos.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains the true definition of love. When Hashem created the world, He pulled Himself back to create space for us to exist. In our relationships, we have the opportunity to act like Hashem and pull ourselves back to create space for another. We are often afraid to do so because we lack a deep connection to our infinite Godly souls. When we play the game of life with an infinite amount of "poker chips" we are strong enough to pull back and give ourselves to another.

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of Kavod. Kavod does not mean approval, recognition, appreciation or honor. On one level it means the substance of a person. The awareness of the Godliness that resides within each and every one of us. On a deeper level it means the immeasurable preciousness that the Ribono Shel Olam has for every single Jew.

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg examines many of the halachos of the Metzora and explains the inner nature of each one. When we take a snapshot of someone, defining them without context by their lowest moments, we fail to capture the full picture of who they are.

In this shmooze, delivered at Mevaseret Mishmar, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of Sefiras HaOmer and the connection to Shabbos. Only when we find serenity can we dream and only when we can dream can we receive the Torah.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of the Niddah cycle. The halacha of the mother who gives birth to a baby boy and gives her son a Bris represents the Torah of man. We are not meant to live in a state of Tahara but to achieve a state of Tahara. In this way we rectify the sin of Adam HaRishon.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explores the inner nature of the Racham bird. In today's day and age it is popular to put things in "context" in order to find compassion for those who commit atrocities. Ultimately this leads to the development of a cruel society. Similarly, in relationships, while there is often value in being compassionate, we must learn to create healthy boundaries when someone is showing up in ways that are inappropriate and make us feel unsafe. The Racham bird may be compassionate, but it's compassionate even to the cruel.

In this shmooze, delivered at Mevaseret Mishmar, Rav Burg explores three different Torah's around the halachos of Kashrus in animals. The Kli Yakar explains that we must be careful about our surrounding influences. Rav Yisrael Salanter teaches that we can never write off another Jew. The Chida explains that we need to define people by their core positivity. And if this is true about how we relate to others, it is certainly the way we need to relate to ourselves.

In this shiur, delivered in Sharfmans, Rav Burg explains the inner nature of the sin of Nadav and Avihu. What does it mean that they were drunk? Why is Ahron HaKohen told to communicate the issur about being drunk in the Mishkan for all generations? There is a difference between religious and spiritual. Religion is about serving Hashem the way He wants to be served. Spirituality is about serving Hashem with all of our heart. When we combine being religious and spiritual is when we are truly serving Hashem wholeheartedly.

In this shiur, Rav Burg explains (based on a Torah from the Shvilei Pinchas) the secret of the Bnei Ephraim leaving Mitzrayim 30 years too early. What was their thought process? What was their mistake? Why does Hashem say that He will avenge their blood if they made a mistake?

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam on Erev Pesach, Rav Burg explains the inner meaning of Ha Lachma Anya. Only through pure Chesed will Klal Yisrael ultimately be redeemed.

In this shiur Rav Burg explains the deeper meaning of the small Aleph at the beginning of Vayikra. When we humble ourselves and the world then we reveal the inner essence of Hashem that the material world is rooted in. Only when we harmonize the physical and the spiritual world are we fulfilling the mission for which we were created.

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explains why Hashem wanted Klal Yisrael to avoid the Pelishtim as they left Mitzrayim, why the first Mitzvah Klal Yisrael received was freeing slaves and why on the precipice of entering Eretz Yisrael, Moshe Rabbeinu reminds Klal Yisrael of the fears they experienced when they left Mitzrayim. To be a slave in Mitzrayim means to lose all sense of dignity and agency over one's life. The process of taking Klal Yisrael out of Mitzrayim is restoring their dignity and giving them a sense of responsibility for their lives.

In this shiur, delivered in Sharfmans, Rav Burg uses several different aspects of the Mishkan to explore how we can build a relationship with Hashem.