Rabbi Dunner takes a closer look at the curious phenomenon of Ruth the Moabite, matriarch of the Davidic royal dynasty, whose story we read on Shavuot.

What makes her so special? Why is she singled out for her own book in the Hebrew scriptures? Why is the Davidic monarchy descended from her? Why do we read about her on Shavuot?

Rabbi Dunner examines Ruth in her historical context, and uses scriptural and Midrashic sources to paint an accurate picture of Ruth, taking into account the era in which she lived, how she might have been perceived in her day, and what it was that made her so unique.

Image: Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, “Ruth im Feld des Boaz“, National Gallery, London UK