This is a view of Hadassah Medical Center from the church of Visitation in the home town of John the Baptist.
Nestled in the middle of many medical buildings is a small synagogue. The arches you can see in the center building are the windows. Four walls with three windows each for a total of 12 stain glass windows that represent the 12 tribes of Israel. They didn't allow picture taking so the images I am using are from the internet. I am afraid the pictures are a little disappointing. Picking out the images with clarity is difficult. The colors and richness are not well represented for they are truly amazing, especially when the windows have sun shining through.
Starting with the first full window on the left we find Reuben, Jacob's eldest son. The bird soaring upwards has eagle claws and represents Rubin's great strength. The dominant color of the window is blue connecting with the theme of water and the beginning of creation. The lower right hand corner has a Mandrake flower. It is tradition that Reuben had such great love for his mother Leah that he would bring them to her every day.
The middle window is Simeon with an angry blue conveying the great wrath jacob held against his son for spilling another man's blood. The large circle on the bottom contains the sun, moon and stars symbolizing the continued story of the creation.
The last window in this panel is for Levi. Chagall deemed him the most holy and sacred. A symbol for the 10 commandments is represented here, the Levites guarded the Torah. Candles to be lite on Sabbath, a goblet of wine, a prayer book and the star of David are all found in this window.
Judah, the tribe of the Kings, is illustrated by the jeweled crown on top of the window. Hands hold the crown in the air. At least once a year the priests would hold there hands high in the air over Jerusalem to bless them. Each hand only has four fingers because the second commandment prohibits making an exact replica of the human form. The rich red background is because it is said that Judah washed his clothes in wine. The city of Jerusalem and the lion are also represented. The lion is the symbol for the tribe of Judah.
Zebulon is the center window. His people were fisherman and tradesmen on the Northern boarder. Thus the boat and the 2 large jeweled fish symbolize his success in commerce.
Issachar's window is a window of agriculture. A strong boned donkey is in the window and shows how he toiled so hard on the land that he loved.
The left window is called Dan which means Justice. It has a large candelabra which resembles a scale of justice. Wound around the bottom is a serpent which reminds us of the blessing his father, Jacob, gave to him. In the lower right hand corner are the horses heads that are falling back from being bit by the serpents. The house surrounded by white snow is Chagall's boyhood home in Vitebsk Russia.
The middle green window is attributed to Gad the warrior and has a strong sense of war, chaos and bloodshed. The two circles at the top symbolize hope with a ray of light emanating down onto the bloody scene.
In contrast to Gad the last window in this panel, Asher, has a calm and luxurious feel. The dove carrying the olive branch adorns this window bringing peace and hope to it. This tribe was well known for there export of olive oil. The Menorah has reference to the ancient temple and the crowned eagle has a golden fish in its belly symbolizing fertility.
The first window is the window of Naphtali. The enormous bird at the top is similar to an eagle. It represents the strength and endurance of Naphtali. The beak of the bird is wide open because it is said of Naphtali that he "giveth goodly words".
The center window is the only window with a background of golden yellow and it belongs to Joseph. Hundreds of sheaves of wheat are engraved into the glass representing the wheat that had to be stored during the seven years of famine. Joseph appears in the upper left wearing a crown symbolizing his victory over Egypt. Other symbols include clasped hands, a shofar, fingers stained red symbolizing the Holocaust and a crimson red tree trunk whose roots run deep into the ground. The tree divides into two main branches representing the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh.
The window for Benjamin has repeating circles surrounding Benjamin in the center. This symbolizes his brothers protecting him because his mother Rachel died during childbirth. According to the blessing of Jacob, Benjamin is a wolf who ravages in the day and divides his spoil by night. You can see the wolf with his red eyes and the golden city of Jerusalem behind him.
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