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For a detailed description, please click on the individual pictures!
Ephraim Epstein Sanctuary - 1957
The black marble Aron Kodesh (Ark), in the form of
the Tablets of the Law, penetrates the stained glass window. This
structure expresses the interior and exterior of the Ark - the Covenant
between G-d and man.
The ideas of knowledge, wisdom, tolerance, and compassion are depicted by the flight of the bird-like abstraction and the words of the Torah. The spirit of the Torah cannot be destroyed for it would always be directed to Heaven. Actual word portions from the Torah and abstract forms are amplified in the side wings of the window.
For a better view please click on the picture!Guller Chapel - 1954
In the Guller Chapel we are reminded daily of the Ten Commandments which are brought to life in the jewel-like windows. Glowing with symbolism, and historically significant, they are thought to be the first three-dimensional stained glass in the United States. Rabbi Arnold Asher, of blessed memory, interpreted the windows and left this commentary: "Facing the windows, from right to left, the Exodus Window contains the first five commandments in horizontal order. The Creation Window contains the last five commandments in vertical position. The two Tablets of the Law represent man's relationship to the Divine, which is vertical, and man's relationship to fellow man which is horizontal. The windows have reversed the order, giving a mystical cast." - The windows were designed by Mr. Rodney M. Winfield, a St. Louis artist, in collaboration with Rabbi Ephraim Epstein, of blessed memory, and executed by the Emil Frei Association of St. Louis.Exodus Window
1. I AM THE LORD YOUR G-D, WHO BROUGHT YOU OUT OF
THE LAND OF EGYPT - Burning bush; pyramids with rain on right to
denote plagues; parting waters; doorposts with mezzuzah and lamb's
blood; hand of Moses holding staff is surrounded by Passover lamb
and plagues.
2. YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BESIDE ME - Broken idols at left pyramids; hand formed in the manner of the priestly benediction.
3. YOU SHALL NOT UTTER THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR G-D IN VAIN - A rod became a serpent in one miracle performed before Pharaoh. Frozen metal serpent on a rod in front of the window acts as a link between both windows.
4. REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY TO KEEP IT HOLY - Menorah and pouring forth of the waters of G-d's holiness and purity; days of Creation.
5. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER - Abstract of people
For a better view please click on the picture!
6. YOU SHALL NOT MURDER - Blood and sacrificed scapegoat
are positive responses to killing of Isaac by Abraham.
7. - YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY - The seeds of Creation.
8. YOU SHALL NOT STEAL - An oversized lock is on the door at right of the scapegoat.
9. YOU SHALL NOT TESTIFY FALSELY AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR - This is indicated by the houses at left of the wall.
10. YOU SHALL NOT COVET - Illustrated by the full reading of the admonition moving toward the house with Succoth fruits and wheat; and many houses in the bottom left corner of the window.
For a better view please click on the picture!
Leona Klayman,
her children and grandchildren commissioned and donated five new
Torah mantles to Shaare Zedek in memory of her husband, Robert Klayman,
in 1999. The colorful covers represent (clockwise, from upper left)
the Mount of Olives, Israel, Land of Milk and Honey, the tallit embraces
Jerusalem, the Old City and the shofar awakens the Holy City. They
were craeted by Judaic weaver / designer Phyllis Kantor of Eugene,
Oregon.