#megillat ruth
Manuscript Monday: The Megillah of Ruth
Inspired by illinoisrbml‘s post on the Esther scroll in their collection, we’re presenting Mizzou’s Ruth scroll for Shavuot.
In Jewish tradition there are five megillot (scrolls) that are read on five different holidays. All of them unrolled using a single roller, instead of two traditionally attached at each side of the scroll.
The Book of Ruth is read on Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks, which occurs seven weeks after the beginning of Passover, in late May or early June. This year, Shavuot began on Saturday, May 23, and ends today.
Among Biblical characters, Ruth is one of the most beautiful. Born a Moabitess, she married a Jew, Chelion, son of Elimelech and his wife Naomi. After Chelion’s and Elimelech’ s death, she faithfully stayed with Naomi, and followed her elderly and fragile mother-in-law back to Bethlehem, where Naomi was from. It was long and dangerous journey, for Ruth it was much safer to return to her parent’s home, but she said to Naomi:
Be not against me, to desire that I should leave thee and depart: for whithersoever thou shalt go, I will go: and where thou shalt dwell, I also will dwell. Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. (Ruth 1:16)
Ruth is equally revered by Jews and Christians, because she is one of the ancestors of King David, and thus mentioned in Gospel of St. Matthew in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
Other scrolls with one roller should be: Book of Esther, read on Purim; Song of Songs – on Passover; Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet.– on the 9th day of Av; and Ecclesiastes – on Sukkot.
- Alla Barabtarlo
Post link
