1.16. And Ruth said, Do not entreat me to leave you, or to keep from following you; for wherever you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your G-d my G-d;
1.17. Where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried; the Lord do so to me, and more also, if even death parts me from you.
1.17. Where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried; the Lord do so to me, and more also, if even death parts me from you.
By Rabbanith Ruth Menashe
What is it in the story of Ruth that is so intriguing and appealing? Why is it that when we read Meghillath Ruth our emotions and admiration arise?
Ruth was of royal lineage, the daughter of the king of Moab. Later on, the daughter of this distinguished father found herself gathering wheat from the fields together with the poor people of the generation. She later on gave birth to the grandfather of Kind David. In life, we go through ups and down, better times and worse times. The extreme contrasts in Ruth’s life are rather exceptional. She went from the very top – being a princess – all the way down to becoming penniless, then back to royalty. It is interesting to note that soon after Ruth’s genuine and emotional decision to leave her home, birthplace and family behind her, in order to embrace the Jewish religion, she finds herself hungry, gleaning sheaves of wheat in the fields.
What is it in the story of Ruth that is so intriguing and appealing? Why is it that when we read Meghillath Ruth our emotions and admiration arise?
Ruth was of royal lineage, the daughter of the king of Moab. Later on, the daughter of this distinguished father found herself gathering wheat from the fields together with the poor people of the generation. She later on gave birth to the grandfather of Kind David. In life, we go through ups and down, better times and worse times. The extreme contrasts in Ruth’s life are rather exceptional. She went from the very top – being a princess – all the way down to becoming penniless, then back to royalty. It is interesting to note that soon after Ruth’s genuine and emotional decision to leave her home, birthplace and family behind her, in order to embrace the Jewish religion, she finds herself hungry, gleaning sheaves of wheat in the fields.
