It is customary to read the book of ruth during the jewish holiday of shavuot, which celebrates the giving of the torah to the jewish people. Although there are five books of jewish scripture that are properly referred to as megillahs esther, ruth, ecclesiastes, song of songs, and lamentations, this is the one people usually mean when they speak of the megillah. The book of ruth h eb, megillat rut or megillas rus is traditionally read on the festival of shavuot h eb. Israel drazin boca raton, florida during the holiday of shavuot, the practice in many synagogues is to read the beautiful biblical book ruth. Why is it that we read the book of ruth the story of a moabite woman who converted to judaism and who eventually married a judge of israel, boaz on shavuot, the holiday when we celebrate the giving of the torah at mount sinai. One of the traditional texts for shavuot is the book of ruth. An animated music video by alicia jo rabins sometimes a journey chooses you. Laws and customs shavuot is a lowkey, pensive holiday, unlike passover with its long seder nights and crunchy, matzahfilled days. Jews recall the night the torah was given and how the ancient israelites overslept.
Ruth and her husband boaz were king david s greatgrandparents. If the book of ruth, text customarily studied on shavuot, were written with todays interfaith couples in mind. The book of ruth is read in synagogue on this jewish holiday, and it is traditional to study all night on this festival. The law required property owners to leave some grain for the poor and widows, like ruth ruth 2. Shavuot is the birthday and yahrtzeit anniversary of passing of king david, and the book of ruth records his ancestry. Thats just a little hint to the jewish people from the author of ruth. Boaz on shavuot, the holiday when we celebrate the giving of the torah at mount sinai. Traditionally read in many synagogues on the holiday, the narrative quality of this book itself is masterful and its delineation of the main characters is sharp and arresting.
These activities include reading the book of ruth or staying up all night to study the torah the five books of moses. Isaacs, there are a couple reasons why the book of ruth is read on the jewish holiday of shavuot in his article, the book of ruth. At the very core of the jewish holiday of purim lies the book of esther, which tells they story of how two jews, mordechai and esther, who ascended in the ancient persian court of ahasuerus, saved the jews from genocide by the evil prime minister haman. The book of ruth for shavuot the jewish holiday of shavuot commemorates the receiving of the ten commandments at mt. Why we read the book of ruth on shavuot my jewish learning. Book of ruth, old testament book belonging to the third section of the biblical canon, known as the ketuvim, or writings. In the old testament section of christian bibles it comes earlier, after joshua and judges. A special reading for shavuot, isaacs writes, ruths coming to israel took place around the time of shavuot, and her acceptance into the jewish faith was. Ruth, a moabite and widow of a jewish man and a princess according to commentators, gave up her life in moab to join her jewish. Bava batra 14b 1 the story takes place during the time of the judges and as such the book of ruth was placed after the book of judges in the septuagint. An indispensable guide for jewish children, this book examines all the holidays of the jewish year, providing historical background as well as exploring the contemporary relevance of the festivals. Torah commentators offer two major theses to explain the custom.
The scenes of harvesting described in the book of ruth are appropriate to the festival of harvest. Ruth s name provides the title for the book of ruth, probably a piece of historical fiction set in the time of the judges. Jewish sources offer six explanations for the custom of reading the book of ruth on shavuot, the festival commemorating the giving of the torah at sinai. Megillat ruth mostly takes place during the harvest season ruth 1. The following are the general laws and customs for the holiday of shavuot. Both the torah, which was given on shavuot, and ruth are all about kindness and generosity hesed. Although not indicated in the bible, an interesting tradition of the holiday is king david died on shavuot. May 14, 2002 if we could learn to emulate ruth in our own act of torah acceptance, the act of divine service that is the essence of shavuot, we would succeed in absorbing the entire spiritual input offered by god on the shavuot holiday. The reading of the book of ruth is one of the traditions of the holiday.
Jpss holiday books take us through the joys, spirit, and meaning of the seasons. Shavuot is the birthday and yahrtzeit anniversary of passing of king david, and the book of ruth records. May 22, 2014 the torahs book of ruth tells of ruth the moabite choosing to make the israelites her people. And david, as you know, was the youngest son of jesse. There are many reasons why we the book of ruth is read on the holiday of shavuot, some of which are enumerated below. What the story of ruth is trying to teach us, parallels between ruth and avraham, and how it connects to the holiday of shavuot. The book of ruth is traditionally read on the jewish holiday of shauvot in jewish bibles, ruth is in a section of writings that starts with psalms and proverbs. It is set in the time of the judges not the best ones, if we assign it to the period of gideon and samson and it attempts to define the rights of widows and aliens within a society. The story is read on the jewish holiday of shavuot, or the harvest festival to remind jews that god is alive. Shabbat and all jewish holidays always begin at sunset of the evening before.
Shavuot is one of the least celebrated major jewish holidays. The story of ruth is also the classic jewish motherinlaw daughterinlaw story, in that it is the story of a relationship of great love, loyalty and devotion which develops between the two female heroines of. She was a moabite princess who converted to judaism in the 10th. The book of ruth, megillat ruth is read on shavuot because. Jewish law assigns this book to the festival of shavuot for various reasons. Bursting with fullcolor photographs and lively illustrations, this volume is an enthusiastic and. The book of ruth is recited as part of the program of study for shavuot night. The book of ruth is traditionally read by jews on the holiday of shavuot, which celebrates the revelation of the torah at mount sinai as well as. The torahs book of ruth tells of ruth the moabite choosing to make the israelites her people.
Outside of israel, this happens on the second day of shavuot. If the book of ruth were written today interfaithfamily. The book of jewish holidays by ruth lurie kozodoy, teresa. Ruthshavuot connections the sages found a cryptic message. For this reason it is placed in the septuagint after the book of judges. Many homes are decorated with various plants, including those with flowers. Shavuot, ruth, and cheesecake the history of shavuot. The story of ruth is also the classic jewish motherinlawdaughterinlaw story, in that it is the story of a relationship of great love, loyalty and devotion which develops between the two female heroines of the story. We also read the book of ruth because ruths fidelity is symbolic of the loyalty expected of the entire jewish community to torah and to the people of israel.
Named a 2007 national jewish book award runnerup in the category of contemporary jewish life and practice. There are five books in tanakh that are known as megillot hebrew. The events take place during the summer harvest when weeks is celebrated. We also read the book of ruth because ruth s fidelity is symbolic of the loyalty expected of the entire jewish community to torah and to the people of israel. But a third and perhaps the main reason for our reading the book of ruth on this festival is. Oct 16, 2019 the book of ruth her story of redemption. A marginal holiday by rabbi joshua lesser on friday june 02, 2006 6 sivan, 5766 book of ruth, shavuot. She lived long enough to see her greatgrandson david, who became the l. A special reading for shavuot, isaacs writes, ruth s coming to israel took place around the time of shavuot, and her acceptance into the jewish faith was.
The primary commandment related to purim is to hear the reading of the book of esther. A midrash a teaching from rabbinic literature claims. Ruth is a moabite woman who marries a judean immigrant named mahlon 1. Shavuot is a jewish holiday that celebrates the giving of the torah on mt. See more ideas about book of ruth, bible and bible pictures. For ruth and boaz had a son named obed, who became the father of jesse. It took moses and the israelites seven weeks of trekking through the desert to reach mount sinai. Among the observances of shavuoth the third of the three regalim, the jewish holidays that require pilgrimage to jerusalem when there is a temple is the custom of reading the book of ruth. May 30, 2017 the god appointed holiday ends at sunset thursday, june 1. You gotta know these jewish holidays flashcards quizlet. According to the rabbis samuel wrote the book which bears his name and the book of judges and ruth.
The book is held in esteem by jews who fall under the category of jewsbychoice, as is evidenced by the considerable presence of boaz in rabbinic literature. Why is it that we read the book of ruth the story of a moabite. Today, the book of ruth is generally read as part of shavuot services. Ruth is wellloved for her loyalty to her motherinlaw naomi and is often called judaisms most. According to rabbi alfred kolatach, there are three reasons why ruths story is read during shavuot. Ruth is a book for all times, whether written in post. Bursting with fullcolor photographs and lively illustrations. Sefer rut the book of ruth is the fifth book in the ketuvim writings section of the tanach. It is appropriate to read the book of ruth on shavuot for two reasons. Ruth, a moabite and widow of a jewish man and a princess according to commentators, gave up her life in moab to join her jewish motherinlaw, naomi, in the land of israel. Sukkot, passover, and this holiday are the three pilgrimages, when jews would all gather at the temple each year.
It is named after its central figure, ruth the moabitess and traditionally read by jews on the holiday of shavuot, which celebrates the revelation of the torah at mount sinai as well as marking the beginning of the harvest seasonwhich is depicted in our film centered around fields and threshing rooms. The connections between this story and the spring harvest festival. Jun 11, 2016 many customs are associated with shavuot, among them being the consumption of dairy products, readings from the book of ruth and, for observant jews, an allnight torah study. The book of ruth is also traditionally read on shavuot morning because of its link to the harvest season when the story takes place and because of ruth s acceptance of the jewish faith and god. Ruths story takes place during the spring harvest, which is when shavuot falls. The book of ruth perspectives from faith communities. Upon his death she becomes a childless widow who chooses to accompany her motherinlaw, naomi, to judah. Among the observances of shavuoth the third of the three regalim, the jewish holidays that require pilgrimage to jerusalem when there is a temple. What an appropriate time to read about the consummate convertand her justly deserved reward. National gallery, london there are five books in tanakh that are known as megillot hebrew. The book of ruth is read in synagogues on pentecost, the feast of the lord known as the feast of weeks or shavuot. The book of ruth also functions liturgically, as it is read during the jewish holiday of shavuot weeks.
The book of ruth one of the 24 books in the hebrew bible. The book of ruth is also traditionally read on shavuot morning because of its link to the harvest season when the story takes place and because of ruths acceptance of the jewish faith and god. The book is traditionally ascribed to the prophet samuel, but does not name its author. The book of ruth is read by jews on shavuot, which celebrates the revelation of the torah at mount sinai, also marking the beginning of the harvest season. In traditional settings, the book of ruth is read on.
As well, the book of ruth functions liturgically, being read during the jewish holiday of shavuot. Ruth has a further connection to shavuot because she was the greatgrandmother of king david who, according. Many customs are associated with shavuot, among them being the consumption of dairy products, readings from the book of ruth and, for observant jews, an allnight torah study. Shavuot and the reading of the book of ruth san diego. Ruth was a brave, nonjewish woman, whose love for god and the torah led her to convert to judaism. Just as ruth freely committed herself to judaism, so too did the jewish people freely commit themselves to following the torah.
On the jewish holiday of shavuot, we read from the book of ruth, a story about ruth, an ancient noabite and her motherinlaw naomi, an. Ruth returns to judah from moab with her motherinlaw, naomi ruth 1. The two day long holiday marks the end of the seven week counting of the omer the time period between passover and the day god delivering the torah to moses and the israelites on mt. Shavuot and the book of ruth hebrew for christians. The book of ruth tells of ruth the moabite choosing to make the israelites her people. Reform judaism therefore chose shavuot as the holiday on which to. The book of ruth is read on shavuot, the holiday celebrating the giving of the torah on mount sinai. She insisted on adopting naomis god, torah and religion. Shavuot is connected to the barley harvest also called bikkurim in the bible. Schweitzer as a liberal jewish community, we encourage our young adults to affirm their commitment to the jewish community on shavuot. Additionally, in many synagogues it is read publicly on the second day of shavuot.
According to one tradition, david was born and died on shavuot. The book of ruth, one of the five scrolls of tanakh is read at morning services on shavuot. In the hebrew bible, ruth stands with the song of solomon, lamentations, ecclesiastes, and esther. It is the second of five megillot or scrolls that are read during the festivals of the lord leviticus 23 or. The book of ruth is read on the holiday of shavuot, the traditional anniversary of the death and birth of king david. The torah was given to the jewish people on this day, the sixth day of sivan, and just as torah learning is acquired through pain and poverty. Upon his death she becomes a childless widow who chooses to accompany her. We, who were all present as a nation at mount sinai, who experienced the revelation of god and became jews by nature of the overwhelming force of that revelation, have much to learn from ruth, who converted on her own and whose whole life was dedicated to doing good for others. The book of esther is commonly known as the megillah, which means scroll. The book relates the story of a remarkable gentile woman who joins the jewish people and became davids ancestor.
See the full text of the book of ruth in hebrew and english with rashis commentary. My first book of jewish holidays artscroll youth shmuel blitz, tova katz on. Following jewish customs, ruth lets boaz know he is a kinsmanredeemer and that she is eligible to marry him ruth 3. Dec 24, 2018 since ruth demonstrated her loyalty to judaism by converting, it is appropriate to remember her on a holiday that commemorates the giving of the torah to the jewish people. Ruth is wellloved for her loyalty to her motherinlaw naomi and is often called judaisms most famous convert, or j. The book of ruth, which is poetically idyllic in character, although the narrative is in the form of prose, contains an episode from the period of the judges. Dairy foods are traditional on shavuot, some say because the jews learned that all their meat was not kosher when they received the torah.