Look out the window on a spring day. Our eyes behold a new
resurgence of greenery. A symphony in shades of green.
Delicate baby buds perched on the tips of long slender
branches. Slender pine needles bristling in silent pride for
having withstood the rigors of winter. The trees are fuller
and taller than last winter, wearing their garment of green.
New leaves on fragile branches, new growth on old and
familiar trees. Blades of grass sprouting between wild herbs
of every description, scrubby, spiky and prickly. Green
medicine to the trained eye. Silent wild flowers sparkling
with color, each with their unique smell, shape and texture.
Notice the red velvet dabs of color among the expanse of
grass and weeds. Flowers and greenery show that Hashem's hand
is spread open. With sights and smells like this, our hearts
likewise open in happiness.
Mt. Sinai was covered with flowers. The mountain was dressed
with the honor befitting one receiving a priceless gift.
Prior to the giving of the Torah, Sinai looked like any other
mountain in the vast dry ochre desert wilderness of earth and
low growing brush. Now the mountain was covered with the
visual splendor, as only the Master Craftsman of Creation
could produce. Sinai was alive with color in the banquet of
fragrance and greenery. It wore a majestic coat of the many
colors and another invisible one exuding the scents of
nature.
The fragrance of flowers brings pleasure and happiness.
Aromas of good smelling spices, plants, flowers bring joy to
the beholder and direct one's thoughts to all that is pure
and holy when it is combined with mitzvos.
We decorate our homes and beis knesses with greenery
and flowers on Shavuos because Mt. Sinai was covered with
flowers. We use what is locally available: leaves, branches,
flowers, plants and grass because the mountain was covered
with greenery. We bedeck the beis knesses with
fragrant smelling plants such as roses because every word
that Hashem spoke filled the entire world with the smell of
perfume. The Mogen Avrohom says that one puts trees in
the house and the beis knesses because Shavuos is a
time of judgment for the fruit of the trees. It is,
therefore, a custom in some communities to place tree
branches around the bima. All the greenery also
reminds us of the bikurim offering and the shtei
halechem, which made it permissible to use the new grain
and fruits of the seven species. Branches are also a reminder
of the reeds of the Nile which protected Moshe's basket. He
was saved in the future merit of the Torah which he would
transmit to the Jewish people.
The foliage is cut and prepared before Shavuos. A day or two
before, step out of doors to your yard, garden or local field
or countryside to collect your Shavuos decorations. Clipping
branches and flowers takes on an added meaning when it comes
to embellish a mitzva. Of course, there is also the
local florist. Use your natural skills and tastes for amateur
flower arrangements.
According to botany expert Batsheva Mink, the easiest foliage
to preserve without the use of water for 3-4 days are
branches from the conifer tree family. These needle-leaf
trees include pine, fir, spruce, cedar and hemlock, and
produce what many of us know as pinecones. Other vegetation
that has the ability to stay fresh after being cut without
water is the olive tree, which is abundant and wild in
Israel. Also recommended are the pungent bay leaf tree, the
perfumed lavender plant, called by the same name for its
fragrance and color, and rosemary, a very common, lowgrowing
herb with sturdy blue flowers. One need only to spray them
with water to keep them fresh.
Most other foliage and plants must be in water or they will
quickly wilt, especially in hot weather. There is a powder
preservative available from the florist that is mixed into
the water. After the flowers and leaves are clipped to the
desired length, they can be put in a vase or set in a green
flower- sponge in a bowl. This a styrofoam block and is
available from the florist (and can be reused). Flowers,
leaves and ferns are arranged on the sponge, with the
heaviest, largest and highest pieces placed in position
first. Next come the lighter, smaller and lower specimens
that fill out the rest of the block. Chicken wire or mesh is
also used to hold the sping in place when the weight of the
arrangement requires extra support.
For decorations that are composed of tree branches or boughs,
tie these together first with heavy string, twine or wire,
followed by a band of ribbon. For example, arrange two large
branches from different species and one, two or three small
branches of a third species, bind and attach a decorative
ribbon. For an elegant ribbon arrangement, combine three or
four types of ribbons and a pinecone, dried flower or a seed
pod. Attach with staples and superglue or other sturdy
adhesive. Allow for drying time.
DIRECTIONS FOR A FESTIVE RIBBON CLUSTER
* Take a 1 inch wide by 24 inches long satin-look ribbon, tie
into a large bow with a 4-5 inch `tail'.
* Take a 1/2 inch wide by 13 inches long synthetic ribbon and
cross right half over left half and secure one inch from the
top with a staple. Glue on to first bow, leaving 3/4 inches
of the top of the second ribbon extended above the first
bow.
* Take a 1 inch wide by 10 inches long satin-look ribbon, tie
into a small bow with a 1 1/2 inch `tail'. Glue on top of
second ribbon.
* Place either a pinecone, dried flower or seed pod with a 1
3/4 inch stem on top of the three layers of ribbons and
secure with glue.
* Take a 1/4 inch wide by 24 inch long synthetic ribbbon,
curl by pulling quickly two or three times across the cutting
edge of a pair of scissors. Place the center of the ribbon at
the top of the stem of the dried flower. Secure with glue.
* Attach ribbon cluster to group of branches and foliage.
* Repeat process as desired.
* Optional: Make larger ribbon clusters by enlarging the
dimensions of the materials proportionately.
To hang Shavuos decorations without the aid of tape or new
holes in the walls, consider the following spontaneous
methods:
* Hang decorations above eye level. This causes people to
look upward and hopefully to raise their thoughts upward as
well. Place the foliage across the top of hanging frames such
as mirrors, paintings and bircas habayis plaques. Or
use the wire behind the frame to support the branches and
leaves. Three or four bunches of branches, fresh and green,
embellishing your already lovely frames gives off an
immediate welcoming sign that Shavuos is here. The festive
look and fragrance promotes encouragement and the enthusiasm
to stay up the whole night in study.
* Place foliage or boughs of trees on top of china, silver or
book cabinets along the front edge. Two bouquets of flowers
can be arranged symmetrically with a third group in the
center along the top of the cabinet.
* Tuck the stems of flowers and leaves inside the top corners
of drapes, in curtain casings where the rod comes out or
attach to a cornice. With the proper choice of color, they
may even look like they were part of the window scheme.
* To hang decorations directly on the wall, temporarily
remove a wall clock or frame and use its hook to hang up your
Shavuos decorations. The sun coming up in the morning at
sunrise will remind everyone what time it is.
* For placement of foliage at eye level, use your window air
conditionar as a base or place foliage in a curve around
table lamps. Take out your finest Shabbos silver or china
serving bowls and fill with an array of Shavuos greenery,
flowers and strands of ribbon or bows. Don't forget to use
stalks of wild wheat if available from fields or empty lots
and tie into miniature sheaves.
The earth's the limit.
