Some people follow a custom to pass around fragrances, myrtle or rosemary leaves, mint leaves, cinnamon sticks or cloves. The fragrant spices symbolize life, love, and renewal. It is advisable to bring a large quantity of spices so that it will be possible to pass them around to all your guests in a short time.
Upon smelling the fragrant spices the blessing is:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי בְּשָׂמִים
Barukh atah adonay eloheynu melekh ha-olam boreh minei b’samim.
Blessed are you, Lord our God, the creator of spices.
If the spice is a plant, then the blessing is instead:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא עִשְׂבֵי בְּשָׂמִים
Barukh atah adonay eloheynu melekh ha-olam boreh isvei b’samim.
Blessed are you, Lord our God, Lord of the Universe, who created sod spices.
After smelling the spice, some recite:
וְהָיָה לְךָ לַמֵּשִׁיב נֶפֶשׁ
V-hayah l-kha la-meyshiv nefesh.
“And this child shall be to thee a restorer of thy life,” based on the verse in RuthAn important female biblical character with her own book. The Book of Ruth, read on Shavuot, tells the story of Ruth’s devotion to her mother-in-law, Naomi, and their return to Israel. Ruth’s story is often read as the first story of conversion. Ruth is the grandmother of King David. 4:15.
