Stained Glass Windows
While the Shaar has many beautiful pieces of art dispalyed around the building, in many ways the building itself is a work of art. As you enter the Shaar Hashomayim at the main entrance to the building on Côte-Saint-Antoine, you will notice some beautiful stained glass windows. These were installed around 1968 around the same time as the building was expanded.
“The Burning Bush”
These stained-glass windows were designed by Lillian Hoffman and executed by technician Pierre Oesterrath who used chipped, slabbed glass, with epoxy cement joints. This technique was developed during the construction of the J. F. Kennedy International Airport Chapel, with Jordi Bonnet.
As the name of the piece suggests, these windows depict scene of the burning bush. The first three panels on the left depict the flames on the bush.
The three panels to the right show the embers of the flames floating off.
“Jacob’s Ladder”
This stained-glass window (made of plate glass), which is opposite the entrance to the sanctuary, was made by Theo Lubbers and represents the ladder in Jacob’s dream after which he woke up and exclaimed:
וַיִּירָא וַיֹּאמַר מַה־נּוֹרָא הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה אֵין זֶה כִּי אִם־בֵּית אֱלֹהִים וְזֶה שַׁעַר הַשָּׁמָיִם
“Shaken, he said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the abode of G-d, and
that is the gateway to heaven.” (Bereishit 28:17)
The verse from which the Shaar derives its name.
“The Ten Commandments”
The other of the long windows across from the entrance to the sanctuary (also made of plate glass and designed by Theo Lubbers) represents the giving of the 10 commandments to the people of Israel.