2015 Articles

A Look at Our Chapel Windows

Pollack, Robert

The document titled "A Look at Our Chapel Windows" by Robert Pollack, published in 2015, reflects on the stained glass windows in the chapel at B'nai Jeshurun, a synagogue in New York City. Pollack shares his personal experience of attending the morning prayer services (minyan) and how he came to appreciate the deeper significance of the windows that depict the twelve tribes of Israel. The article explores the artistic and symbolic choices behind the designs of the windows, which are based on the biblical descriptions of the tribes as recounted by Jacob in the Book of Genesis and by Moses in the Book of Deuteronomy.

Pollack analyzes how the windows were designed, noting the differences between the two biblical accounts and how the artist may have interpreted these texts to create a harmonious visual representation. He highlights the symmetry in the placement of the windows and how they convey a narrative that links the past, present, and future of the Jewish people. Pollack concludes by reflecting on the spiritual connection the congregation forms with these windows, viewing them as a continuation of the ancient texts and their enduring significance in contemporary worship.