The Burning Bush

Two years ago my son, ready to enter college, was in a full on crisis because his girlfriend (of three years)was pregnant. One night as he left our house for his new apartment, he noticed a spark in a bush at the end of a driveway. It burst into flames, just as your bush did. He came back in and we read the old testament story together. He took this event as a sign that G-d was with him and would be with him. Fast forward - he is now a junior in an excellent college business program on an academic scholarship with a 4.0 gpa, is married to a lovely girl, also a college student. They are wonderful committed, loving 20 year old parents and we are enjoying one of the greatest joys of our lives - our 14 month old son. G-d is still with us. Thank you for your video.

Mitzvah gedolah l'hyot samayach!
I have been living with severe chronic pain for years now and each hour I am grateful to be alive. I had several major accidents that could have left me C'Shalom not here. But that was not Hashems will. I look to each day with happiness though I might smell like Ben Gay at a nice young age. Your words are the words I think to myself everyday. I know I can I know I can! This is what I have, this is what I am. There is a reason. G-d is in my life. But I cried as I listen to The Burning Bush....It was so good to listen your comments, your words are so good to hear and I am very thankful for your always uplifting and inspiring words and "almost" presence in my home. Please come again!
Tiske l'mitzvot! Thank You........EG

A beautiful explanation, very inspiring, especially now, since I am facing a difficult challenge myself. Usually, I do not respond in the comment sections but this time I needed to tell you that your wisdom, kindness and teaching has become a very welcomed place in my life. Many thanks to you and Aish HaTorah.
B"H

I've wondered how long Moses watched the bush before he recognized the miracle that was occuring? It seems to me that he had to be willing to RECOGNIZE God was doing something marvelous right then, right there. How often am I willing to see the ways God is present and active in my life? Not as often as I should be.
One more thing - God doesn't give me more than I can handle, but part of handling it may mean asking for help appropriately. (You called the fire dept, right?)

I'm just going through difficult financial problem, and it seems like I can't handle it anymore. Thank you, Lori, for reminding me that Hashem is by my side.

Your story releases my tearsa, and my Angst...


thanks..!!

Rabbi Yitschak Twersky links this idea of "Eheyeh Imach" [I {Hashem} will be with you] to the name of Hashem which he gives Moshe "Ekyeh Asher Ekyeh". The pshat of that name is that Moshe can tell Bnai Yisrael that Hashem is the one that is WITH Moshe (Eheyeh Imach) "bringing about all of the miracles of the Exodus" A beautiful explanation of pshat in the name Ekyeh Asher Ekyeh. [Rav Yitschak Twersky wrote this in his new Sefer 'Amittah Shel Torah']

It has taken me 20 years to finally cross that bridge from pure reason, in which everything needs to be proved, to faith, in which nothing has to be proved to be a fact. love the burning bush. What are the odds of sitting at a coffee shop, talking about problems and see a bush catch fire...what, about 10 million to one? To say God is a trip and a half is an understatement.

Please if you ever get to Long Island , Ny please I would love to meet you- you are a true inspiration!
The story you related today was just in the nick of time-- I needed that! I love you Lori! Gayle Kall

Dear Rachel, the problems and the solutions are not important to any person but Lori and her friend. The really important thing is to internalise the story, see its meaning, and to apply it on our own lives. Once again, this "Lori almost live" has been inspiring and 100% true. I also see symbols reminding me G-d's company every day! Thanks Lori.

Lori's commentary was very encouraging and uplifting. She makes life seem so much easier than it appears. A great burden was lifted when I listened to "the burning bush" commentary. Keep them coming. (smile)

Although very cute, I still would like to hear Lori's friends problems & a solution. Saying to someone, you can handle it because Moses did is just beating around the BUSH!

Today when I see the movie about the burning bush Im really know that G-d talk today. My life is really a problem, with many test to pass. But I know as simple as you tell us...G-d do not send me anything I cant handle it.
B"H"

Thank you so much for your inspiring comments; they always seem to help me at the right time.

a strong statement but we know it is not always true. tell it to the jews of europe while they are being butchered or the lady who just got violated. i believe it's a nice saying to make us feel good but someone with a serious difficulty does not get a lot of comfort from this statement. what they do get is guilt. why can't they just get over it, God gave it to them.

THANK YOU

I was blessed indeed by "The Burning Bush" comments. The problems of life can sometimes overwhelm us - we can't see the trees for the forest. It's then "The Burning Bush" takes our attention from the forest that threatens to swallow us, to the bush that enlightens us. G-d is so good to us. May HE give us eyes to always see HIM.

Now that's impressive. Not everyone encounters a burning bush! I think your experience is a great reminder that everything is a lesson. The "bad" things that happen are meant to teach us a lesson and elevate us to a higher level of faith and closeness to G-d. The burning bush is a one of those precious reminders that the almighty is beside us.

I have never been so low in my life as today when l saw the morning paper and in detail in BBC website the gory site of a mass of destruction, all the same thanks for the encouragement and the therapeutic story or should l say truth that God is with us, thanks.

Thank you for the inspiring messages.

Actually the message is even more powerful. The message being sent specifically in a thorn bush signifies that G-d is right there with us in our challenges and our suffering.

I'm with you, some times in our lives we see the problems too big, that we think we can't handle them, but what we always forget is that Hashem is always by our side to give us the strength to defeat them. Thanks for that beautiful words.

thank you for all your inspiring comments
i too wish you bracha v'hatzlacha and you should continue inspiring klal yisroel ad meiah v'esrim b'h!

thank you so much that was exactly what i had to hear in order to believe it, especially from a person like you
you're amazing!!
thank!

Lori, thank you so much for continuing to inspire so many people everyday. You are an amazing person-- sincere, creative, a great orator " a light unto the nations" Please keep doing what you are doing. You will never know how much you have helped me and others.

That is a ongoing miracle of how our precious Almighty is almighty...Thank you for sharing this with everyone.

Dear Lori
Just like Moshe Rabbeinu you are helping Jews come out of Mitzraim.I am not sure what your Hebrew name is but whomever you are named after was clearly a leader,teacher and comforter.Chazak Ve'ematz

Your words blessed my spirit. What a miraclous thing to happen. The Almighty truly loves us.

Lori,
I truly believe this is so true. When
my husband Rabbi Joseph Feinstein ztl
was diagnosed with a brain tumor over
20 years ago I told Hashem that if He
were testing me if I would always love
Him I told Hashem I would, and if You
are testing me would I believe in you
I said I would. Many years have passed,
I continue my baal teshuvah work and
teaching gerim as my husband guided me
to and almost l9 years later my emunah
is greater and Baruch Hashem has inspired hundreds to help in their lives
to work out their obstacles.
Thank you for your work comments.
Sincerely,
Reb. Doris Feinstein

Yes, it is true, but difficult, to accept suffering. To internalize the truth that we are only given what we can handle can only come through grace. How vital to remember where our strenth comes from. Thank you for your encouragement.

Great. Will keep this for myself and others.

Wow Lori...you did it again...I love listening to your videos and forwarding them on to my crew...please come to Chicago and give a speech/lecture/shabbaton..would love to attend..

Thank you mrs Lori for showing me a burnish bush.

I am a proselyte & have been seeking a more fulfilling spirituality to my life;G-D has led me this far; each encounter has a specific meaning, Thank you so much

Try convincing parents who've watched their young teenage daughter slowly die from cancer that they "can handle" it. What a trite overused phrase. What does it mean? That you won't collapse and die right away? True. That you won't "flip out" and be committed to an asylum? True. But if "handle it" means you can continue your life without longing hopelessly for your lost daughter, with the ability to experience the simple joys of life (with all its day-to-day problems) like most people who haven't watched their child die or without quesioning, on a daily basis, why? Not true.

This was of course a very comforting message, but I have to wonder if it is well rooted in our tradition and theology? Of course, G-d has his individual account for every person, and an individual is not privy to the entire picture. On a communal basis, G-d has his directions for the JEwish people. But on an individual basis, does G-d never really give a person more than they can take? What do you say to familes ripped apart by suicide bombings? What about the families queued up for their turn to be shot by the einsatzgruppen? What about the mother whose children were ripped away from her by the Nazis? What about the victims of Gzeirot tat vetach, the inquisition, the Crusades, etc., etc.
I wonder if your answer is truly theologically sound, or if the story is really much more complex?

BS"D

Your message touched my heart. I cried through it. My husband,of blessed memory, passed away 4 months ago after a 4 year battle with cancer. After 40 years of marriage, I'm lost without him. But I know that G-d is with me, and this morning He wanted me to hear your message.

May Hashem bless you and all His people with the strength to take on the challenges.

Beautiful reminder that God does indeed speak to us and we need to listen. Thank you so much. I needed that too!

Hi Lori,
I am glad I opened to this, your story, this morning.
This is what is happening in my life, on a constant basis. There is something so incredible when you witness these connects. It is so beautiful!

I have been writing about this for a long time. I have thousands of pages and YES, I totally feel what you are saying, at the deepest levels. There are still profound and troubling questions that do enter our consciousness and one is, it doesn't always happen to people that they exit life gracefully. Maybe they can handle it, but it does appear that torture to others does result in their deaths and they are not in control of that "handle". Now I do deconstruct language and I am saying the Greater Story is Surely About LOVE. Look at the word handle and say it to yourself aurally. What is handle but HAND and EL and EL is for God as in Elohim. Yes, Laurie, the burning bush, the hand of God. Your story is so beautiful. It goes deeper.

Thank YOU for bringing this forward and for your beautiful, loving words.

in truth/ruth

What a great story, made me smile.

Thank you for reminding me that Hashem is there for me! The stress does get easier, when I talk with Him! And 2007 was filled with stress!

Sometimes people are lacking in bitachon and that makes it difficult to believe and accept.

How can you be ALWAYS good??????.. Its incredible... I love to hear you speak. Please dont stop EVER!!. You are a sheliach from hashem.

thank you Lori, that was just what I needed to hear.

Lori,
I love listening to you every week. I don't have a rebbetzin of my own so I feel like your her. If you are ever in chicago I would love to hear you speak.