This week, Jews will observe Shavuot. The holiday bears many names: It is called the Holiday of Weeks (reflecting the 49-day interval that has elapsed since Passover), the Holiday of Torah-Giving (commemorating the seminal event at Sinai), and the Festival of the First Fruits (recalling the harvest and subsequent sacrifices that were once made at the Temple in Jerusalem). Regardless of what you call it, though, Shavuot includes one ritual that has endured throughout the centuries: the reading of the Book of Ruth during synagogue services.
Within its four concise chapters, the Book of Ruth condenses a number of themes. In one, Ruth represents the prototypical convert; many women today who leave another faith for Judaism adopt her name. Also, Ruth’s lineage demonstrates that the concept of a “Chosen People” is not intended as racist: Judaism teaches that, although Ruth began life as a Moabite, the messiah will descend from her. Finally, Ruth’s relationship with her mother-in-law, Naomi, offers a model for platonic friendship.
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From Tablet Magazine
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