The Torah Windows

Commemorating The Five Books of Moses
for the Washington Hebrew Congregation

THE EXODUS (SHEMOT) WINDOW
As the amber band of the twelve tribes enters the Exodus (Shemot) window at the lower left, the Jewish people are still under the “Shadow of Captivity”. Moses birth and selection by the Jews during their captivity in Egypt is shown as a circle being embraced or accepted into the amber band with another “flash” or “bolt” radiating down from above. As with the Patriarchs, Dichroic glass indicates God’s favor that fills Moses.

The spark-like shapes that irregularly outline the “Shadow of Captivity” are Dichroic glass. They serve as a reminder that, during their Egyptian bondage, the Jewish People were not deserted by God.

In the lower right of this window, the emergence of the amber band from the gray “Shadow of Captivity” represents the Jews being led out of Egypt by Moses. The ten V-shaped sparks along the line where the amber band moves out from under the “Shadow” symbolize the ten plagues God visited on Pharaoh and the Egyptians. The “rise” from slavery is further indicated by the upward movement of the amber band.

As the Jews traveled towards Canaan, Moses left them to receive the Decalogue on Mt. Sinai. God’s revelation of the Ten Commandments is represented in the right side of this window by the “flash” or “bolt” radiating downwards to the amber band with ten clear lenses.

The first Passover Rite is commemorated in the upper right arch of this window. The blood of the Pesah lamb which was painted on lintels and door posts is represented by the splash of red glass on the upper arch.

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INTRODUCTION

THE GENESIS (BERESHIT) WINDOW

THE EXODUS (SHEMOT) WINDOW

THE LEVITICUS (VA-YIKRA) WINDOW

THE NUMBERS (BE-MIDBAR) WINDOW

THE DEUTERONOMY (DEVARIM) WINDOW