Shavuot Flowers in NYC: A Synagogue & Home Guide

Shavuot 2026 begins at sunset on Sunday, May 22, and ends at nightfall on Tuesday, May 24.

Shavuot is one of the year's most floral Jewish holidays. The tradition of decorating synagogues and homes with flowers and greenery — symbolizing Mount Sinai blooming when the Torah was given — turns the entire holiday into a floral moment. At Alaric Flower Design, we hand-design Shavuot arrangements from our Upper West Side studio at 54 W 70th Street: white peonies, garden roses, lilies, and elegant greenery, delivered same-day across Manhattan and to covered Brooklyn neighborhoods.

What Flowers to Send for Shavuot

Three categories dominate Shavuot floral requests:

White and cream arrangements

White flowers symbolize purity, the Torah, and the harvest of summer. Peonies, garden roses, lilies, hydrangeas, and orchids in white-and-cream palettes are the most traditional. Greenery (eucalyptus, ferns, palms) evokes Mount Sinai bursting into bloom — and works beautifully on Shavuot tables alongside dairy-themed dishes.

Synagogue installations

Many synagogues commission larger floral installations for the bima (Torah-reading platform) and aron kodesh (ark). These are typically large-scale, scented (lilies are popular), and arranged to last through the full two days of yom tov. We deliver these in advance — usually Sunday morning or early afternoon, before the holiday begins at sunset.

Host gifts

If you're invited to a Shavuot meal — particularly the traditional dairy meals on the first night and second day — a bouquet for your host is customary. Smaller-scale arrangements ($100–$200) work well; white or pastel palettes match the holiday's elegant, light feel.

Synagogues We Deliver To

Alaric delivers Shavuot arrangements same-day across Manhattan and provides scheduled delivery to covered Brooklyn neighborhoods. Below is our working list of NYC synagogues by neighborhood. We deliver to all addresses listed; for synagogue-side coordination (delivery timing, contact at venue, large installation logistics), call ahead at (212) 308-3794.

Upper West Side

• Stephen Wise Free Synagogue — 30 W 68th St, NY 10023 (Reform)
• B'nai Jeshurun — 257 W 88th St, NY 10024 (Conservative-egalitarian)
• Congregation Rodeph Sholom — 7 W 83rd St, NY 10024 (Reform)
• Lincoln Square Synagogue — 180 Amsterdam Ave, NY 10023 (Modern Orthodox)
• Congregation Habonim — 44 W 66th St, NY 10023 (Conservative)
• The Jewish Center — 131 W 86th St, NY 10024 (Modern Orthodox)
• Society for the Advancement of Judaism — 15 W 86th St, NY 10024 (Reconstructionist)
• West End Synagogue — 190 Amsterdam Ave, NY 10023 (Reconstructionist)

Upper East Side

• Temple Emanu-El — 1 E 65th St, NY 10065 (Reform)
• Park Avenue Synagogue — 50 E 87th St, NY 10128 (Conservative)
• Park East Synagogue — 163 E 67th St, NY 10065 (Modern Orthodox)
• Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun — 125 E 85th St, NY 10028 (Modern Orthodox)
• Congregation Or Zarua — 127 E 82nd St, NY 10028 (Conservative)
• Temple Shaaray Tefila — 250 E 79th St, NY 10075 (Reform)
• 92NY Bronfman Center for Jewish Life — 1395 Lexington Ave, NY 10128 (Pluralistic)
• Temple Israel of the City of New York — 112 E 75th St, NY 10021 (Reform)

Midtown East

• Central Synagogue — 652 Lexington Ave, NY 10022 (Reform)

Greenwich Village & East Village

• Town & Village Synagogue — 334 E 14th St, NY 10003 (Conservative)
• Village Temple — 33 E 12th St, NY 10003 (Reform)
• Sixth Street Community Synagogue — 325 E 6th St, NY 10003 (Modern Orthodox)

Lower Manhattan

• Civic Center Synagogue (Shaare Zedek) — 49 White St, NY 10013 (Modern Orthodox)

Harlem & Washington Heights

• Old Broadway Synagogue — 15 Old Broadway, NY 10027 (Orthodox)
• Mount Sinai Jewish Center — 135 Bennett Ave, NY 10040 (Modern Orthodox)

Brooklyn Heights & DUMBO

• Brooklyn Heights Synagogue — 131 Remsen St, NY 11201 (Reform)
• Congregation Mount Sinai — 250 Cadman Plaza W, NY 11201 (Conservative)

Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens & Boerum Hill

• Kane Street Synagogue — 236 Kane St, NY 11231 (Conservative)
• Beth Jacob Ohev Sholom — 115 Carroll St, NY 11231 (Modern Orthodox)

Park Slope

• Park Slope Jewish Center — 1320 8th Ave, NY 11215 (Conservative-egalitarian)
• Congregation Beth Elohim — 274 Garfield Pl, NY 11215 (Reform)
• Kolot Chayeinu — 1012 8th Ave, NY 11215 (Progressive Reconstructionist)

Not in this list? We almost certainly deliver to your synagogue if it's in Manhattan or one of our covered Brooklyn neighborhoods (Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Downtown Brooklyn, Fort Greene, Williamsburg, Park Slope, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, Carroll Gardens). Call us with the address and we'll confirm.

Timing Your Shavuot Order

Shavuot 2026 begins at sunset on Sunday, May 22. Most floral orders must arrive before that:

• Manhattan same-day: order by 2pm ET on Sunday May 22 for delivery the same afternoon.
• Brooklyn (covered neighborhoods): schedule 1–2 days ahead; Sunday morning delivery available.
• Synagogue installations: we recommend ordering 5–7 days ahead so we can confirm with the synagogue's facilities manager and coordinate delivery timing.
• Host gifts for first-night meals: Sunday morning delivery to the host's home is ideal — gives the host time to vase the arrangement before guests arrive.

Outside the NYC metro area, we don't ship — every Alaric arrangement is hand-designed and hand-delivered locally.

School Colors? Synagogue Palettes?

Some synagogues have signature design palettes for major holidays — we work from your photo references or the synagogue's preferences directly. We've designed Shavuot installations across Reform, Conservative, Modern Orthodox, Reconstructionist, and pluralistic congregations; happy to coordinate with your venue's facilities or ritual committee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you deliver before Shavuot begins at sunset?

Yes — that's the standard delivery window. Order by 2pm ET on Sunday May 22 for Manhattan same-day delivery; we'll coordinate delivery before sunset so the recipient has time to vase the arrangement before lighting yom tov candles.

Do you deliver large-scale installations to synagogues?

Yes. For bima, aron kodesh, or sanctuary-scale installations, contact us 5–7 days ahead so we can confirm with the synagogue facilities manager, coordinate access, and source the right scale of stems.

What about kosher considerations?

Flowers themselves don't require kosher certification, but we're happy to coordinate with synagogue staff on protocols for entering the sanctuary (delivery during permitted hours, no ladders/installations on yom tov itself, proper coordination with the rav or executive director).

Can I match my synagogue's signature color palette?

Yes — send us a photo from a prior year or the synagogue's design preference and we'll match the closest seasonal stems available. For Shavuot specifically, white-and-green palettes are the most universal and adapt across denominations.

Are deliveries on the second day of yom tov possible?

We can deliver on Tuesday May 24 (second day of yom tov) for households or recipients who accept deliveries on yom tov — some communities do, others do not. If you're unsure about the recipient's observance, scheduling pre-holiday delivery (Sunday) is the safer default.

Shop the Shavuot Collection

Browse our hand-designed Shavuot arrangements — white peonies, orchids, garden roses, and elegant greenery. Same-day Manhattan delivery from $100.

Shop Shavuot Bouquets →

Designed by Lena Yelagina from the Alaric Flower Design studio at 54 W 70th Street, New York. Family-owned, hand-designed since 2006.