Chagall’s Window – a Must-visit Place in Jerusalem
Jerusalem is known to have rich culture and plenty of historical places but the country also holds some of the mesmerizing and notable artworks in the world like Chagall’s Window.
The magnificent and marvelous Chagall’s Window is designed and constructed by Marc Chagall, a legendary Russian-Jewish artist. The Window is a twelve colored glass window display dedicated to Hadassah in 1962. It has been noted that it offers a “spiritual ambiance.”
The individual features, attributes, vocations, and capabilities of the twelve children of the Bible ancestor Jacob are displayed in Marc Chagall’s iconic work “Window”. The painting is an artistic representation of a biblical narrative found in Genesis. Through his use of color, Chagall creates a stunningly beautiful window into an imaginary world that is captivating.
Each window in the synagogue is an 11-by-8-foot arched artwork with a painted image which reflects Marc Chagall’s study of Genesis 49 and Deuteronomy 33.
The windows of the synagogue are a spectacle to gaze at and showcase some of the most brilliant shades of reds, blues, yellows, and greens that one could ever imagine. The visual vocabulary that is present on these original stained-glass windows provides a glimpse into the biblical text and Jewish history that adorns them.
During the 6-day War of 1967, some of the window panes in the Hadassah Medical Center were shattered. When Chagall heard this, he telegraphed the hospital and said that he will make them new windows, so they don’t need to worry about it being damaged.
Marc Chagall restored the devastation to the windows he had constructed at the Beth Israel Synagogue in 1920, and he also fixed the windows on the exterior of the Great Synagogue in 1922. He left one window uncolored as a memory of what had happened. These windows are believed by many to be his most notable piece in Israel.
The Story Behind Chagall’s Window in Jerusalem
The windows can be traced back to the late 1950s when representatives from the Hadassah organization met with the Russian-French painter Marc Chagall in Paris. They came well prepared and had a compelling request for stained glass which they believed would be perfect for the windows of what is now known as the Abbell Synagogue.
According to some legend about the meeting of the renowned painter with Hadassah’s representative, Chagall has been wanting to serve the Jewish people through his artworks.
Marc Chagall, a renowned artist, appeared at the temple of the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Centers in the city of Jerusalem in early 1962. This visit was to consecrate a window commemorating over 2,000 physicians who served the Hadassah organization and the Jews of Palestine.
Over 300 individuals watched Chagall construct the stained-glass panels commissioned to commemorate the fledgling State of Israel. The event had delegations from Hadassah, Israel officials, and the Women’s Zionist Organization of America in attendance and his work was watched by a group of about 300 people.
The mesmerizing masterpiece of Chagall at the Hadassah University is one of the most-visited tourist attractions in the city of Jerusalem. You should not also miss the outstanding work of Chagall when you visit Jerusalem.
