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the many beautiful works of art throughout of synagogue.
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WELCOME TO THE WINDOWS OF THE BETH SHALOM
Original
description of windows by Rabbi Moshe Goldblum edited Elul 5759/August 1999 by
Rabbi Stephen E. Steindel
Mount Sinai
Beginning at the far left, the first window is symbolic of Mount Sinai Moving from right to left we observe the burning bush
through which Moses was notified that he must return to Egypt. Moving to the
left we see the tablets of the Ten Commandments with the letters of the ancient
Hebrew alphabet inscribed upon the stone, The clouds of God's glory are
portrayed further left for we are told that the heights of Sinai were enveloped
in clouds as the great revelation was taking place. At the extreme left we see
the golden calf, the symbol of Israel's weakness and its inability to fulfill
the covenant of Sinai. While Moses was yet upon the mountain the people were
asking for a golden calf that they could see, touch and worship too. The
Biblical passage, "We shall obey and we shall hearken" expressed
Israel's desire to live by the Divine commandments, and this phrase may be seen
in the lower portion of the window.
Mount Moriah
The next scene is symbolic of Mount Moriah, the
hallowed height upon which the binding of Isaac took place and upon which the
Temple stood. Moving from right to left we see the phrase that describes the
relationship between Abraham and Isaac as they climbed to the heights of
Moriah. Below the passage is the ram whose horns are caught in the green
bramble bushes. Further to the left we see two baskets out of which grain is
being poured. This portrayal reminds us of the story: On this very mountain, so
the rabbis tell us, there lived two brothers who shared in a wheat field. The
older brother was childless and the younger was blessed with children. Each
night the older brother would take a bushel of grain from his pile and place it
upon his brother's grain for he felt that a man with children needed more. In
like manner, the younger brother would take a bushel from his heap and place it
upon his brother's grain for he believed that a man without children must have
something extra for his old age. One night they met, dropped their baskets and
embraced each other and it was on this very spot that the Temple was
built.
Further to the left we see the actual Temple itself built
amongst the trees of the Har Habayit. It is a symbol of past splendor as well
as of hope and faith for the future growth and development of the State of
Israel. At the top is the well known verse of Ps, 121, "I will lift up
mine eyes unto the mountains from whence shall my help come."
To the right of this commentary, we find eight key
mountains of Biblical history
Mount Arrarat
This high peak was the place on which Noah's Ark finally
came to rest. The waters of the great flood subsided and the dove returned with
the olive branch in her beak. When the ark finally settled on the mountain, God
entered into a covenant with Noah that mankind would never be destroyed again
by flood and the rainbow was to be the symbol of that promise. The passage,
"An everlasting covenant between God and man," reminds us of the
desire of God to see man live and not perish The dove with the olive branch in
her beak is a symbol that God's word binds Him eternally to bless us with life
and peace, with insight and understanding, and with color and beauty.
Mount Nebo
It is from the heights of this mountain that Moses stood and
looked over the Jordan River to see the promised land. He could see the land
from afar but would never be able to set foot upon it. At the bottom we see the
green palm trees of Canaan that Moses viewed but was not able to touch.
Glancing upward we see the cloud of God's glory which accompanied Moses through
those last moments of his life. Only the Divine is aware of Moses' place of
interment and this has permitted the later generations of Israel to avoid
making his sepulcher into a holy shrine. Moving upward we see a candle, burned
low and extinguished, symbolizing his death. The passage is "And view the
land from afar 6 A expressing.
Mount Ayval:
Here stood the tribes of Reuben represented by a lyre, Gad
the dweller in tents, Asher by a tree, Zebulun the seaworthy ship, Dan by the
serpent and Naftali by the graceful hind. The passage, "Hearken unto the
commandments of the Lord," again reminds Israel of its primary
responsibility to fulfill God's word. When the children of Israel crossed over
into Canaan they were given the blessing if they were to fulfill God's covenant
and the punishments if they did not. In order to dramatize the contrast, six of
the tribes stood on Mount Gerizim and six stood on Mount Ayval. The
blessings were read toward one and the punishments toward the other. Each tribe
is symbolized by a certain artistic symbol and these designs are found in the
window so that six tribes are portrayed in each grouping. On Mount Gerizim
stood the tribe of Simeon symbolized by a fortification, Levi by a basket of
fruit, (Bikurim) Judah with a crown, Issachar the scholarly scroll, Joseph as a
fruitful vine, and Benjamin as a wolf The passage "And be Thou a
blessing," is a summary of Israel's lot if they will keep the covenant.
Mount Gilboa:
It was at the heights of this mountain that King Saul and
his son, Jonathan, met their deaths in a battle against the Philistines. David
laments their passing with the words, "How the mighty have fallen."
He pay them tribute by describing them as stronger than lions and swifter than
eagles . The lion's head and the eagle's wings help us to remember the
greatness of past leadership. The broken sword and the crown emphasize the
tragedy for all Israel
Mount Carmel:
We are reminded of the stirring episode in the life of
Elijah the prophet as he tries to lead his people back to their true belief in
the God of Israel. Queen Jezebel had sponsored the public worship of Baal and
had threatened death to any prophet or leader who tried to restore the original
beliefs of the Jewish people. Elijah challenged the priests of the Baal to see
which deity would send fire from heaven to kindle the sacrifice prepared on
Mount Cannel. The priests of Baal beseeched their idol for a heavenly flame but
none came, but lightning streaked out of the heavens consuming both the
Elijah's sacrifice and the altar The window portrays (at the bottom) the cold
altar and sacrifice of the priests of Baal. Moving upward we see the flame
kindling Elijah's sacrifice and the smoke rising to the heavens above. When the
people saw this great miracle they publicly acknowledged the supremacy of God
by openly declaring, "The Lord He is God," which we repeat each Yom
Kippur
Mount Scopus:
It is on this mountain that the original campus of the
Hebrew University was built. The passage from Proverbs is therefore
appropriate, "For wisdom is better that rubies." Mount Scopus, too,
is the burial place of Samuel the Prophet who was the anointer of both Saul and
David, the first two kings of Israel. The royal crown (good name) and pitcher
of oil (God's chosen) remind us of this unique role which Samuel fulfilled in
his life time. In the middle of the window we see a scroll which symbolizes the
diplomas received from the Hebrew University and at the bottom we see the lamp
of learning which has always burned brightly in every generation of the Jewish
people and of which the Hebrew University is a symbol of our own day.
Mount Zion:
This mountain has become the symbol of the coming of the
Messianic Age. It is here that all the nations of the world will congregate and
will acknowledge one God for all mankind. The circle of universal understanding
and compassion features the palm branch, symbol of peace. If all mankind would
accept the obligations of living in a Messianic Age then we would be worthy of
the prediction made for Mount Zion,
