For a long time, I’ve wondered about the living state (or lack thereof) of a bouquet of flowers. Are they alive or are they dead? I know they look nice, fresh, and colorful. But, if you think about it, cut flowers should essentially be considered dead. Which is exactly why I try not to think about it too much. After all, I like flowers and I think they look nice at the Shabbos table!
Recently, however, as I was thinking about this morbid component to fresh flowers, my curiosity got the best of me (as curiosity tends to do!), and I decided to reach out to Josh Hurewitz, a business consultant who also holds a PhD in Horticulture. He explained to me that although the cells in the cut flower are still technically alive, the flowers are dying since they are cut off from their source and do not have a means to stay alive. Cutting the flowers essentially breaks the cycle of nature, as those flowers will never have seeds or bulbs. Once the flower is cut, it is cut off from life and can never really recover.
Of course, you can (and must) put water in the vase. But that does not keep the flowers alive; it simply delays the visible appearance of the already dead flower. The same is true with the mysterious packet of “flower food,” a powdered mixture typically containing sugar, citric acid, and sodium benzoate. Feeding the flowers with this packet may feel good, but again, you are merely covering up and delaying the inevitable. Oh, one more thing! As a general life-hack to keep the flowers “looking alive for longer,”, Josh Hurewitz PhD recommends filling up the flower vase diluted 50/50 with water and Sprite (or Seven Up). You’re welcome.
There is a powerful lesson for us to glean from cut flowers. Anything in this world that is cut off, disassociated with, and removed from its source, is essentially not living anymore. If it is true with a flower, it is certainly true with people! Today, the world at large is screaming in pain. There exists an overall sense of a disillusioned reality. People do not know who they are, what they are, and why they are! People are confused. There is a lack of clarity. So many people are not living with a sense of purpose, meaning, and mission.
My friends, it is quite simple. Just like cut flowers, the people of the world are figuratively “dying” since they are cut off from their source and do not have a means to stay alive. So, what are we to do in these dramatic times? How are we, as yidden, meant to survive and thrive? How are we supposed to stay strong?
The answer is to do exactly what we have been doing for thousands of years. That is, to stay connected to our roots, to the Source. To live by the Torah and observe the commandments. The Torah itself is unchanging, however, its morals and lessons that it imparts to us, make us the most changed, developed, and mission-driven people.
Parshas Shelach is shrouded in the sadness and darkness of the חטא המרגלים – Sin of the 10 Spies – and the subsequent consequence of 40 years of exile. However, at the very end of the Parshah, the Torah discusses the Mitzvah of Tzitzis. In Chapter 15, Verse 39, we are taught: והיה לכם לציצית וראיתם אתו וזכרתם את כל מצות ה’ ועשיתם אתם – These will be your Tzitzis. When you see it, you will remember all the commandments of G-d to perform them…
Rabbeinu Bachaya teaches us that the strings of the Tzitzis can be likened to a life-rope that the captain of a ship throws to someone who fell into the turbulent waters. The captain cries out, “Hold on! Hold on tight and you will be saved.” Hashem, the Greatest Captain of all time, gave us the Torah. And He cries out to us, “Hold on! Hold on tight and you will be saved!” As it says in Mishlei (3:18): עץ חיים היא למחזיקים בה – For it is a tree of life for those that hold onto it.
Our key to survival lies in our ability to connect to our roots and to the ultimate Source of life. A cut flower may look nice for the time being, but it is not really alive. The Torah is our means to stay alive! When you hold on to it, it will hold on to you, and your life will take on more meaning, purpose, and vitality!
Have a holy Shabbos!
For a long time, I’ve wondered about the living state (or lack thereof) of a bouquet of flowers. Are they alive or are they dead? I know they look nice, fresh, and colorful. But, if you think about it, cut flowers should essentially be considered dead. Which is exactly why I try not to think about it too much. After all, I like flowers and I think they look nice at the Shabbos table!
Recently, however, as I was thinking about this morbid component to fresh flowers, my curiosity got the best of me (as curiosity tends to do!), and I decided to reach out to Josh Hurewitz, a business consultant who also holds a PhD in Horticulture. He explained to me that although the cells in the cut flower are still technically alive, the flowers are dying since they are cut off from their source and do not have a means to stay alive. Cutting the flowers essentially breaks the cycle of nature, as those flowers will never have seeds or bulbs. Once the flower is cut, it is cut off from life and can never really recover.
Of course, you can (and must) put water in the vase. But that does not keep the flowers alive; it simply delays the visible appearance of the already dead flower. The same is true with the mysterious packet of “flower food,” a powdered mixture typically containing sugar, citric acid, and sodium benzoate. Feeding the flowers with this packet may feel good, but again, you are merely covering up and delaying the inevitable. Oh, one more thing! As a general life-hack to keep the flowers “looking alive for longer,”, Josh Hurewitz PhD recommends filling up the flower vase diluted 50/50 with water and Sprite (or Seven Up). You’re welcome.
There is a powerful lesson for us to glean from cut flowers. Anything in this world that is cut off, disassociated with, and removed from its source, is essentially not living anymore. If it is true with a flower, it is certainly true with people! Today, the world at large is screaming in pain. There exists an overall sense of a disillusioned reality. People do not know who they are, what they are, and why they are! People are confused. There is a lack of clarity. So many people are not living with a sense of purpose, meaning, and mission.
My friends, it is quite simple. Just like cut flowers, the people of the world are figuratively “dying” since they are cut off from their source and do not have a means to stay alive. So, what are we to do in these dramatic times? How are we, as yidden, meant to survive and thrive? How are we supposed to stay strong?
The answer is to do exactly what we have been doing for thousands of years. That is, to stay connected to our roots, to the Source. To live by the Torah and observe the commandments. The Torah itself is unchanging, however, its morals and lessons that it imparts to us, make us the most changed, developed, and mission-driven people.
Parshas Shelach is shrouded in the sadness and darkness of the חטא המרגלים – Sin of the 10 Spies – and the subsequent consequence of 40 years of exile. However, at the very end of the Parshah, the Torah discusses the Mitzvah of Tzitzis. In Chapter 15, Verse 39, we are taught: והיה לכם לציצית וראיתם אתו וזכרתם את כל מצות ה’ ועשיתם אתם – These will be your Tzitzis. When you see it, you will remember all the commandments of G-d to perform them…
Rabbeinu Bachaya teaches us that the strings of the Tzitzis can be likened to a life-rope that the captain of a ship throws to someone who fell into the turbulent waters. The captain cries out, “Hold on! Hold on tight and you will be saved.” Hashem, the Greatest Captain of all time, gave us the Torah. And He cries out to us, “Hold on! Hold on tight and you will be saved!” As it says in Mishlei (3:18): עץ חיים היא למחזיקים בה – For it is a tree of life for those that hold onto it.
Our key to survival lies in our ability to connect to our roots and to the ultimate Source of life. A cut flower may look nice for the time being, but it is not really alive. The Torah is our means to stay alive! When you hold on to it, it will hold on to you, and your life will take on more meaning, purpose, and vitality!
Have a holy Shabbos!
