The Sacred Raspberry: Have You Ever Tasted Fruit from the Burning Bush?

Moshe was shepherding his father-in-law's flock of sheep in the Sinai mountain region when he chanced upon an unusual phenomenon: a bush was on fire, but the fire did not consume the bush! Moshe said: "I must turn aside now and see this great sight! Why is the bush not burning up?".

What kind of bush did Moshe chance upon that day?

According to the currently accepted theory, the bush in question was the raspberry shrub, which is often referred to as the "sacred raspberry" on account of its connection to the biblical story.  The sacred raspberry is dense and thorny, and neither thieves nor animals can easily pass through it. For this reason, this type of bush forms an ideal fence. As the Sages said: "This bush is made into a fence for gardens" (Shemot Rabbah 2:5).

This bush formed a fence around Mount Sinai, and the fire that burned within it wasn't a fire that destroyed the bush. Instead, it was a fire that burned and protected the holy mountain that awaited the Jewish people, who would come there to serve Hashem after they were freed from Egypt.

According to the author of the Kli Yakar, Hashem's choice to reveal Himself through a bush contains an implicit rebuke of the people. On so many occasions, Jews have unfortunately informed on their fellow Jews and caused so much harm, just like burning thorns easily ignite one another. As long as we fail to treat one another respectfully, the exile will continue.

Naturalist Rabbi Yehuda Felix reports that the sacred raspberry bush grows on Jabal Musa (an Arabic term that refers to "Mount Moshe," which, according to some opinions, is the site of Mount Sinai)  

Interestingly, an ancient inscription from Sinai contains the words "the God who dwells in the bush," which is similar to the Torah's formulation "the favor of the One who dwells in the bush."

At Matan Torah (the giving of the Torah), Hashem again revealed Himself in a bush, as the entire mountain was on fire. Accordingly, the way Hashem revealed Himself to the entire nation reflected the way He revealed Himself to Moshe.

The sacred raspberry bush grows delicious fruits, and if you find a bush that isn't burning, you can certainly enjoy its fruits. That said, one should be aware of the prohibition of orlah (the Torah law that forbids the consumption of fruit within the first three years after a tree is planted), which, according to many opinions, is common with this plant.