The story of Ruth in the Old Testament has always been among my favorite, and the scene where she gathers grain is beautifully depicted in this stained-glass window at Temple Mishkan Israel. After Ruth's husband died, she followed her mother-in-law to the land of Judah, telling her, "Wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; Your people shall be my people, and your God will be my God."
Photograph by Christine Weerts
More information about Temple Mishkan Israel can be found HERE.
I have never read that book, but the glass work here looks very good.
ReplyDeleteThis is one gorgeous piece of stained glass. And I agree about the story of Ruth.
ReplyDeleteIs this a Messianic congregation?
Hi Jacob,
ReplyDeleteThe temple is not messianic, and there has been no local rabbi since the mid-70s. There is still a small Jewish community here which maintains the building along with friends of Temple Mishkan Israel. Jewish settlers came to Selma in the 1800s and contributed greatly to its business and civic life.
Thanks for the info. I've read a bit about the Jewish community in Selma previously.
ReplyDeleteIsn't this the congregation that offered $50,000 to any Jewish family that would move to Selma and become part of the congregation?
So sad there's no rabbi.
Jacob, You may know more about this congregation than I do! My info is from a booklet on Selma's churches, "Historic Churches of Selma Prior to 1925."
ReplyDeleteMore about its history can be found at http://www.jewishjournal.com/travel/article/saving_the_south_20030117/
Thanks for the link. Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteThe stained glass window is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'll ever be as obedient a daughter-in-law as Ruth though. ;)
Wonderful window. The colours and all the details are amazing.
ReplyDeleteThat is really one beautiful stained glass window!
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