Full View Temple Sanctuary Looking Toward Front	Stained Glass Above Bimah and Torah Ark

I explained to the Facilities Committee that the remonim that crown our Torah had the coats of arms of the twelve tribes of Israel etched into them, and I thought it would be a wonderful idea to tell the story in stained glass. And so, the complete top of the Eastern Wall of our Temple contains that story .

You will notice that the two-toned gray area in these first three windows form a chain link looped together. The breath of God sweeps through these windows parting the waters on either side of the Temple and breaking the chains of bondage.

The twelve banners each bear a symbol of one of the twelve tribes. Jacob fathered twelve sons. They are the ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel and the ones for whom the tribes are named. Each occupied a separate territory, except the tribe of Levi, which was set apart to serve in the Holy Temple. These twelve banners flow towards the center to represent the Exodus.

The numerous stars in the sky surrounding these banners remind us of God's promise to Abraham... "I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven."

These are the emblems of the twelve tribes. Starting right to left:

According to Hasidic legend, there have to be 36 righteous people on earth for the world to continue. These 36 tzaddikim are represented by the 36 jewels in the background of these three larger windows.

Our Eastern Wall is covered with Jerusalem stone, a natural stone material coming from areas from the Jordan River on the East to the Mediterranean Sea on the West, and from the southern port of Eilat on the Red Sea to the Galilee and Haifa on the North. This natural stone is a dolomite-limestone. The stone comes from the quarries in large blocks and is then cut into smaller slabs. These slabs go through a distressing process which includes a hammer and chisel effect. The slabs are then cut into small blocks and are exported all over the world. Many 'synagogues around the world use Jerusalem stone in their architecture.

The Star of David on the Western Wall is done in an acid-etched glass that has a surface so the linage will stand out from the other glass used.

Through the Star of David grows the Tree of life. The tree has twelve branches, again representing the twelve tribes of Israel. The leaves change through the seasons of life, moving upward from spring through summer, fall, winter and, at the very top, a touch of spring color again to complete the cycle of life.

The west flanking windows have the leaves (representing members of the twelve tribes) being swept toward the center Star of David window.

The background colors in these windows change to a sunset effect symbolizing the start of Shabbat.

The west wall also contains the pictorial mural of our patriarch Moses from being found in the bulrushes, the opening of the Red Sea, and bringing the law of God down from Mt. Sinai.

The red chairs and crimson carpet represent the swaddling cloth that Moses was wrapped in as he floated down the Nile.

I'm sure you have noticed that our beautiful front doors have tile Torah Scrolls 'with the word 'shalom' in Hebrew etched in. The handles are ram's horns, which had many uses. They became the musical instrument of the Hebrews as well as an early warning system to alert the people of danger.

Soon we hope to have the six large windows on the sides of the Temple sanctuary finished in stained glass. We have several themes in mind.

I hope that this helps answer questions you may have had about our sanctuary. This building and sanctuary were a true labor of love.