Shavu’ot, names, and friends   שָׁבוּעוֹת, שֵׁמוֹת וַחֲבֵרוֹת

The Scroll of Ruth During the Holiday of Shavu’ot, we read in the Synagogue the Book (or Scroll) of Ruth. 

The story tells about the Jewish family of Elimelekh who moved to Moab (מוֹאָב) due to the drought in the land of Judea. The sons of the family married Moabite women. After some years the father Elimelekh and his sons died. Ruth the Moabitess who was married to one of the sons decided to join her mother-in-law Naomi when she decided to go back to Judea. She told her:

“עַמֵּךְ עַמִּי, וֵאלֹהַיִךְ אֱלֹהָי” (“thy people shall be my people and thy God my God;” Ruth:1:16). They arrived at Judea during Harvest time (around Shavu’ot) and Ruth went to collect the leftover wheat in the field of Boaz. (This is the right of the poor to collect the leftovers according to Jewish law).

Boaz is a family member of Elimelekh who is impressed first by Ruth’s appearance and second by her loyalty to Naomi. Eventually, Boaz and Ruth get married and they are the great grandparents of King David.

The Scroll of Ruth and Shavu’ot

Ruth and Shavu’ot There are few reasons why we read this story on Shavu’ot:

First, the story happened during harvest time which is the agricultural component of Shavu’ot.

Second, Shavu’ot is also the Holiday of Giving the Torah. Giving the Torah is considered as the time the Children of Israel were converted from being slaves to being free Jewish people. Ruth actually converted to Judaism and this is another reason we read her story during the Holiday of Giving the Torah. 

Third, according to Jewish tradition, King David was born and died during Shavu’ot. As Ruth was his great grandmother, we read about his descendents at that time.

The meaning of the names in the Book of Ruth

Many of the names in the Book of Ruth have a meaning in Hebrew related to their character or story.

Naomi (נָעֳמִי) comes from the Hebrew root .נ.ע.מ which refers to being pleasant, lovely, and gracious.

Elimelekh (אֱלִימֶלֶךְ), her husband, was from the Judea tribe and his name suggests that he wanted to become a king: “אֵלַי מֶלֶךְ” means “kingship comes to me”. It may also mean “G-d is my king” (אֱלִי=my G-d, מֶלֶךְ=king).

Boaz (בֹּעַז, בּוֹעַז), Ruth’s saver and second husband and the great grandfather of King David may have received his name from being strong, powerful, courageous and brave. “עַז” means “strong and brave” whereas the pronoun “בּוֹ ” means “in him.”

And last but not least is Ruth (רוּת). There are several explanations and midrashim (מִדְרָשׁ  = interpretation of holy scriptures) for the origins of her name. The one I have recently found suggests that the name Ruth (רות) comes from the word Re’ut (רֵעוּת) which means friendship.

My Ruths

I like the friendship interpretation of the name Ruth very much since I have many significant friends named Ruth. Somehow all my Ruths are more than friends        (רֵעוֹת) – they are more like the sisters I have never had. Therefore, I sent them a special Shavu’ot card referring to them as my Ruths club and writing about our special relationships in the light of Shavu’ot. Not all of them like being related to Ruth the Moabitess. Ruthy remembers being “matched” to every Boaz who came across her whereas Ruti felt the burden of the Ruth she was named after.

However, for me, each Ruth is special and I am blessed of having such friends:

· You already met Ruthy in the post about Passover. We knew each other since we were young girls but became friends only recently.

· Ruth and I became friends when we served together in the Air Force (the service in Israel’s army is one of the strongest friendship initiator and the best match-making office…). We really did not like each other in the beginning, but life has its own ways and plans.

· My sister-in-law Ruti who is an outstanding flautist and the one who understands the best our common family matters suggested that I should write about the “Ruths club” in this blog.

· And last but not least is “Safta Ruth” – who is not my children’s real Safta (סָבְתָא – grandmother), but became one when we lived away from our biologic grandparents. She is also the great teacher who guided me through to the wonderful field of teaching Hebrew and I am grateful for that.

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