“Holiday” Flowers
Question
I bought flowers for Shabbos from Trader Joe’s . I just realized they are seasonal color - white green and red . I heard they may have religious symbolism. Do I need to throw them away ?
Answer
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Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
You are permitted to enjoy the flowers you purchased even though the colours resemble the non-Jewish holiday season. There are a number of reasons for this but I will share with you one very interesting and lesser-known reason.
According to halacha, an item does not acquire any form of status, sanctity or prominence just because it was designated for a particular use or symbolism. This concept is referred to as " hazmana lav milta ", which means that designation of something for a ritual purpose is halachically meaningless until it is first used for that designated purpose. For example, if one were to designate an item to be used for a mitzva, such as a myrtle or willow branch to be used as part of the Lulav bundle, it would not acquire any sanctity until it is actually used for that purpose. In fact, if it was not yet used for a mitzva one may retract one’s decision and use it for any mundane purpose.
Other such examples in halacha include the shrouds and accessories for a dead body. Once an item is used in the service of a dead body, such as shrouds or a coffin, it may not be used for any other purpose whatsoever. However, if it was not yet used for a dead body it may designated for any other use whatsoever. There are many more examples of this.
As such, even if there was intention for these flowers to be associated with a non-Jewish holiday they do not take on such status until they are actually used in some relevant manner. Therefore, you may enjoy the flowers and “sanctify” them to beauty your home in honor of Shabbos.
Source
Sanhedrin 47b, Temura 29a; Menachot 34b; Rambam, Hilchot Isurei Mizbei’ach 4:4; YD 349:1