Placing trees in homes on Shavous.

Question:

What is the custom regarding placing trees and grasses in our homes on Shavous?

Discussion:

There are really two separate customs that people have; one is to place flowers and other plants in our homes and shuls. This is to remind us of the simcha of Matan Torah when Hashem caused grass and plants to grow on Har Sinai (Rema 494:3). There is another custom of placing trees in our homes. This is based on the Mishna (Rosh Hashanah 16a)that tells us that on Shavous we are judged on the fruit trees, through placing them in our homes we will have them in mind while we are davening (M.B. 494:10).

However, the Chayei Adam writes (131:13) that the Gr”a was of the opinion that this custom should be discontinued since it is now a non-Jewish custom to place trees in their homes on their holidays. The Aruch Hashulchan (494:6) writes that both customs were removed in earlier generations and therefore there is no longer a custom to place trees or flowers in our homes; this is the opinion of Rav Moshe zt”l as well (Iggros Moshe Y.D 4:11:5).

The opinion of the Steipler Gaon (Orchos Rabbenu vol. 2 pg.99), Rav Aurebach (Shalmei Moad pg. 459), and Rav Elyashiv zt”l (Chag B’Chag 8:24) was that it is not a non-Jewish custom to spread grasses and therefore one may do so on Shavous. Interestingly, although the Steipler said that it is not a non-Jewish custom it is quoted in his name that one should not spread out grasses in Eretz Yisrael (Kovetz Ohr Yisrael 20:136).