There's nothing like a beautiful bouquet to brighten a room or show someone you care. But did you know that flowers also have a special place in Jewish life and tradition? Read on for 11 facts about Jews and flowers.
1. Shavuot Decorations
Decorating homes and synagogues with flowers and greenery for the holiday of Shavuot is perhaps the most well-known Jewish practice with flowers, practiced in many (but not all) communities.1 Several beautiful reasons are given, including to remember that Mt. Sinai, though located in the desert, miraculously bloomed with vegetation in honor of the Giving of the Torah.2
2. Thanking G‑d for Their Fragrance
Judaism teaches us to express gratitude—both to others and to G‑d for all the blessings He gives us. That's why we say a blessing before enjoying anything in this world, including the wonderful fragrance of flowers (and other aromatic plants). The specific blessing depends on whether the flower grows on a tree or from the ground (see link below).3
Fun fact: The Talmud teaches that the pleasure of a pleasant scent is almost spiritual in nature; your very soul experiences this pleasure.4
3. Decorating the Shabbat Table
Many families have the lovely custom of placing a bouquet of flowers on the Shabbat table. In Tunisia, Jewish families would even smell the flowers before Kiddush, after reciting the appropriate blessing.5
4. Torah Scroll Adornment
Here's an interesting custom from 17th-century Jerusalem: On Fridays, certain people would gather flowers, bring them to the synagogue, and tuck them inside the pomegranate-shaped decorations on the Torah scroll as a way of beautifying it. The next day, as worshippers left the synagogue, they would stand at the entrance and hand out the flowers for people to smell, helping them reach their daily goal of reciting 100 blessings.6
Note: Flowers may not be handled on Shabbat unless they were picked and designated for use before Shabbat.
5. No Flowers at Graves
If you've ever visited a traditional Jewish cemetery, you may have noticed something different—there are no flowers at the gravesites. While placing flowers on graves is common in many cultures, Jewish tradition doesn't follow this practice. This is based on several halachic concerns, such as ensuring all deceased are treated equally, the prohibition against deriving benefit from a gravesite, and the Biblical instruction to maintain distinct Jewish practices.7
6. “Duda’im”: Reuben’s Gift
The Torah tells us that Reuben, Leah's firstborn son, once collected duda’im for his mother. (The exact type of plant or flower isn't certain, though some scholars think it might be either mandrakes, jasmine, or violets.8) When Rachel saw them, she traded an evening with Jacob to get some of them.9 Why? Some commentators explain that the plant was believed to increase fertility, which is why Rachel, who hadn't yet conceived, wanted them so badly.10
Read: 14 Facts About Reuben
7. Iraqi Jews: Throwing Them During Special Torah Readings
Today, many communities throw candies at bar mitzvah boys and grooms when they’re called up to the Torah. But Iraqi Jews added flowers to the mix! When a boy was called for Maftir for the first time, or when the father of a newborn boy was called to the Torah on the Shabbat before the circumcision, the congregation would shower them with both sweets and flowers, wishing them a future that’s both sweet and beautiful.11
8. Libyan Jews: Celebrating “Lettuce and Flower Night” After Passover
Libyan Jews had a charming annual custom the night after Passover ended. Fathers would gently tap the heads of each family member with lettuce and flowers, while mothers would exclaim, koh lechai, “To life!”12 Fiancés would send children carrying baskets of lettuce, flowers, and sweets to their fiancées’ homes, where they’d be greeted with joyful song and music.13
9. Flower-Shaped Challah for Purim
Some families bake flower-shaped challah for Purim. This connects to the liturgical song traditionally sung after reading the Megillah—Shoshanat Yaakov, which means “The rose of Jacob, exulted and rejoiced.”14
10. In the Holy Temple: Music with a Rose-Shaped Instrument
Here’s one from the Holy Temple: One of the musical instruments played by the Levites was called shoshanim, related to the word shoshanah, rose. Why this name? Some commentators explain that the instrument was shaped like a rose.15
11. Flowery Names
There are quite a few lovely flower-inspired Jewish names for girls! Some are general, like Bluma (Yiddish for flower), while others refer to specific types. The rose is especially popular, with names like Shoshanah (Biblical Hebrew), Reyzel or Royza (Yiddish), and Vered (modern Hebrew).
But you don’t need a flowery name to be like a flower! The Torah compares the Jewish people to a rose among thorns. Just as a rose keeps its beauty despite the sharp thorns around it, the Jewish nation has remained strong in its beliefs and traditions even when surrounded by different cultures and values.16
Join the Discussion