Last week we celebrated our festival of Shavuot, a holiday of sweet rejoicing in the reception of Torah, an occasion when we enjoy the rich deliciousness of dairy treats, and a time we always set aside for thoughtful learning. Personally, it has always been one of my favorite holidays; I celebrated my bat mitzvah on Shavuot, and I’ve always had a special affinity for Ruth, the biblical matriarch whose Book is read during this time of celebration and study.
Ruth was a Moabite woman married to a Jewish man who died young. Rather than returning to her parents’ home, Ruth decided instead to follow her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to her ancestral home. At first, Naomi tells Ruth not to follow her, but Ruth famously replies:
אַל־תִּפְגְּעִי־בִ֔י לְעׇזְבֵ֖ךְ לָשׁ֣וּב מֵאַחֲרָ֑יִךְ כִּ֠י אֶל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר תֵּלְכִ֜י אֵלֵ֗ךְ וּבַאֲשֶׁ֤ר תָּלִ֙ינִי֙ אָלִ֔ין עַמֵּ֣ךְ עַמִּ֔י וֵאלֹהַ֖יִךְ אֱלֹהָֽי׃
“Do not ask me to leave you; for wherever you go, I will go; wherever you stay, I will stay; your people are my people and Your God is my God.”
—Ruth 1:16
To this day, when a person converts to Judaism, these words are often read in the conversion or mikveh ceremony, as Ruth is our best biblical example of a person who chooses Judaism and the community of the Jewish people. Indeed, our tradition holds Ruth in highest regard, for Ruth is known as the matriarch of David, Israel’s most cherished king (and symbolically or literally the direct ancestor of the Messiah).
In our community, our devoted members come from many walks of life—some were born Jewish and others have chosen Judaism and the Jewish community. I find deep inspiration as I weekly serve on b’tei din and officiate at conversion ceremonies, witnessing the heritage of Ruth alive in our own time. May our matriarch Ruth always serve as an inspiration for us to continuously choose to live our Jewish values and practices, to live with a deep sense of familial honor, and to open our hearts with inclusivity and love to everyone in our community.
—Cantor Emma Lutz
Listen to Cantor Emma Lutz and Cantor Lisa Peicott’s rendition of Cantor Lawrence Avery’s Al Tif’gi Vi here.