Stained Glass banner image

Featured Window

Window of the Month
Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Click any image to enlarge.





Featured Windows, September-October 2012

Congregation of Moses

Building: Congregation of Moses

City: Kalamazoo

State: Michigan

Congregation of Moses, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Built in 1961.

Congregation of Moses in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is over 100 years old. In 2011 the synagogue celebrated fifty years at its third and present home, which was constructed in 1961. Two large stained glass windows, each approximately nine feet high, enhance the sanctuary and social hall. Rabbi Harvey Spivak has learned that they were donated to the synagogue’s previous building in 1948 by former congregant Maurice Handelsman in memory of his wife Zelda, who died that year. When the current building was erected, the windows were reinstalled in its new home. The maker of the windows has not yet been identified. Any information about the artist or studio that created the windows will be welcome.

Ruth and Naomi. This window represents the story of Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi, as recorded in the biblical Book of Ruth. Naomi, an Israelite woman from Bethlehem, and Ruth, a Moabite woman, lived in the country of Moab. After both their husbands died, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem and encouraged Ruth to return to her Moabite family and remarry. However, Ruth replied, "Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (Ruth 1: 16-17).

Jacob’s Dream. This window depicts the story of Jacob and his dream of angels descending and ascending a ladder that reached to heaven, as related in the Book of Genesis (28:10-19).

Congregation of Moses was photographed and registered in the Michigan Stained Glass Census by Carolyn Kennedy of Kalamazoo, MI (MSGC 12.0005).


Bibliography: Show Bibliography

(MSGC 2012.0005)

Text by Betty MacDowell, Michigan Stained Glass Census, September , 2012.