S.A.L.T. - Motzaei Shabbat

A widespread custom has developed to decorate our homes and Batei Kenesset on Shavuot with flowers, branches and the like, a practice recorded by the Rema in the Shulchan Arukh (O.C. 494:3). Although the traditional decoration came under the sharp criticism of the Vilna Gaon, as recorded in the Mishna Berura (494:10), it has nonetheless become generally standard in today's synagogues.  We will present here several reasons offered for this practice, as documented in Rabbi Daniel Sperber's "Minhagei Yisrael," vol. 1 chap. 14.

1. The Levush and Chida associate the custom with the beautiful vegetation that covered the area on and around Mount Sinai during Matan Torah.  In anticipation of the Revelation, God orders Moshe to warn the people against ascending the mountain, adding that even the cattle may not graze on the mountain (Shemot 34:3).  Evidently, the surface of the mountain had become covered with grass and vegetation.

2. Another explanation points to the Midrash's comment in Shir Hashirim Rabba (5:13) that after each declaration of the Almighty during Matan Torah the entire world became filled with fragrant spices.  In commemoration, we adorn our Batei Kenesset, which represent, in a certain sense, Mount Sinai, with fragrant plants.

3. The Magen Avraham adopts an entirely different approach. The mishna in Masekhet Rosh Hashanah (1:2) tells us that on Shavuot God judges the fruits for the coming year. The flowers and branches in the Beit Kenesset are meant to encourage the congregants to pray for a favorable judgment.

4. The Midrash in Vayikra Rabba (in Parashat Acharei Mot) likens Benei Yisrael to a rose situated in a large orchard, with the orchard symbolizing the world at large.  Just as a king who considers destroying the orchard quickly changes his mind upon seeing the majestic roses, so do the merits of Benei Yisrael's Torah study save the world from destruction when its misconduct warrant such. Accordingly, suggests the Benei Yissaskhar, we commemorate this great merit of Torah by decorating our homes and synagogues with flowers on the festival of Matan Torah.

5. Finally, Rabbi Sperber suggests a basis for this custom in light of an obscure, recently discovered Midrash that associates the day of Matan Torah with the third day of creation.  God tells Moshe about the momentous occasion three days beforehand, and tells him to prepare the people for "the third day" (Shemot 19:11). The Midrash claims that this "third day" alludes (though does not actually refer) to Tuesday, the third day of creation, on which God created vegetation.  Just as He created the source of man's physical sustenance on the third day, so is He now prepared to give Benei Yisrael the Torah, the source of man's spiritual nourishment.  Rav Sperber thus suggests that we adorn our homes and Batei Kenesset in commemoration of the third day of creation, effectively underscoring Torah's function as the soul provider of all our spiritual needs.

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