Our Stained Glass Windows

The Stained Glass Windows of The Reform Temple of Forest Hills

There are presently five (5) stained glass window in the Synagogue, each representing a Holy Day or significant Festival. They were originally from Temple Isaiah and moved here and dedicated in March 2000. The descriptions below have been taken from the original documentation.

“These Windows of our Sanctuary are Dedicated to the Glory of God, The Brotherhood of Man, and the Universal Dream of Peace.”

In the Lobby: (from Left to Right)

1st Window – Rosh Hashana
The Central figure on this window is Abraham, the Patriarch who was tested by God and not found wanting. The words of the New Year prayer, “Inscribe us for a good life” dominate the window.

2nd Window – Yom Kippur
The Central Figure on this window is the prophet Isaiah who bade people to “Beat their swords into ploughshares.” Dominating this window are the words, “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.

3rd Window – Shavuot
The Central figure on this window is Moses receiving the Ten Commandments midst lightning and thunder. His outstretched hands, eager to receive them and “To do and obey”, dominated the window.

In the Sanctuary: (from Left to Right)

Left Window – Purim & Chanukah
The central figures on this window are Queen Esther representing the Purim story and a Maccabee representing the epic of Chanukah. There are also images of the Megillah of Purim and the Menorah of Chanukah prominent in the window.

Right Window – Pesach (Passover)

The central figure of this window is the prophet Elijah, honored by visitors at every Seder. The Pesach symbols of Matzo, Moror, Shankbone, Egg and the Four Cups of Wine, are prominent in the window.

The Artist
Raymond Katz was born in Hungary in 1909. He came to the US at the age of 15 and settled in Chicago.  He had been drawing and painting since his early childhood, and as he matured, his interest in painting developed to the point where he studied art seriously at the Art Institute of Chicago and later in Italy, England and France. Great acclaim and recognition came to Katz as a result of his ten panels on Jewish themes which were displayed at the Hall of Religion at the Century of Progress Exhibition in Chicago IN 1933 & 1934. As a result, Katz was soon invited to collaborate in the decoration of many synagogues and was regarded as one of the outstanding Jewish artists in our country.