Ajuntáronse las flores A alabar al Dio a una, que las creó tan donosas, lindas, sin tacha ninguna. Dicen berajot en ellas como dicen en la luna, así dice cada una: no hay más mejor que mí. Sobre todo es de alabar La’El Hai, Sur Olamim. Saltó la rosa y dijo: - Todas queden a un lado; a mí me toca alabar a Dios grande y abastado, que de mí hacen shorope, tambien azúcar rosado, en aguas soy alabada: la cara lavan con mí. Sobre todo es de alabar…. Ahí habló el almizcle una habla graciosita: - A mí me toca alabar, aunque me ves tan chiquita, que de mí hacen ĝamires, me comen con cucharitas y toda la gente rica se refrescan con mí. Sobre todo es de alabar… Ahí habló el jazmín, con su gargantita alta: - A mí me toca alabar porque en mí no hay falta: mi cuerpo - cuerpo de pino, mi color - de oro y plata y cuando el sol sale salen rayares en mí. Sobre todo es de alabar…
The flowers gathered
praising God as one,
who created them so graceful,
lovely, without any flaw.
They say blessings in themselves
as one says over the moon,
and each one says:
there is none better than me.
Above all, to be praised
is the Living God, Rock of Worlds.
The rose jumped and said:
– Let all step aside;
it is my place to praise
the great and praised God,
for they make syrup from me,
also rose sugar,
in waters I am praised:
they wash their faces with me.
Above all, to be praised…
There spoke the violet
a very graceful speech:
– It is my place to praise,
though you see me tiny,
for they make preserves from me,
they eat me with little spoons
and all the wealthy people
refresh themselves with me.
Above all, to be praised…
There spoke the jasmine,
with its little high throat:
– It is my place to praise
for there is no fault in me:
my body — body of pine,
my color — of fine gold
and when the sun rises
rays come out of me.
Above all, to be praised…
From Decile a mi Amor, Judeo-Spanish songs from Tetuan, 2018. This copla, which serves a paraliturgical function, is traditionally sung at home around the table during the holiday of Tu Bishvat. It offers a charming portrayal of various flowers, each one presenting its own virtues - of beauty, usefulness, and grace, making the case for being the one chosen to bless God. In the recurring refrain, however, all the flowers are affirmed as equally beautiful and worthy of praising their Creator. The text was composed by Rabbi Yehuda Cal’i and, although it was frequently printed in presses throughout the Ottoman Empire, it now survives only in the oral tradition - specifically among the Sephardic communities of northern Morocco.
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025