Alabar quiero a Dio que es grande de loores, que creó para el hombre muchas maneras de flores. Y todas son demudadas en color y en olores, sobre todas las mejores es se la almizcle romí.
Sobre todo es de alabar la'El Hai, Sur Olamim.
Ajuntáronse las flores loando 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...
Saltó la rosa y dijo: - Todas queden a un lado; a mí me toca alabar a Dios grande y alavado, que de mí hacen shorope, tambien azúcar rosado, en aguas soy alabada: la cara lavan con mí. Sobre todo es de alabar…
La azucena quiso cantar una cantica galana: - A mí me toca alabar, que soy rosa de ventana; mi aceite hace crecer cabello a las galanas y mi olor es muy bueno que se desmayan por mí. Sobre todo es de alabar…
I want to praise God
who is great in praises,
who created for man
many kinds of flowers.
And all are varied
in color and in scents,
above all the best one
is the spikenard. Above all, to be praised
is the Living God, Rock of Worlds. 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....
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…
The lily wanted to sing
a charming little song:
– It is my place to praise,
for I am the window rose;
my oil makes grow
the hair of fair ladies
and my scent is so good
that they faint because of me.
Above all, to be praised…
From Arboleras vol. 1 - Sephardic cancionero and coplas oral tradition,1996 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 extolling its own virtues—its beauty, usefulness, and grace—as it makes the case for being the one chosen to bless God. In the recurring refrain, however, all the flowers are affirmed as equally beautiful and equally 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 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