Jacob’s Ladder: How Awesome is this Place

David Holleman (Arlington, MA 1927–2020 Lexington, MA)
USA, 1967
Stained glass with epoxy edge gluing mounted on plate glass, h. 8 ft. x w. 5.5 ft.
Dedicated in memory of Dr. Max Goldman
Cincinnati Skirball Museum, gift of Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills, formerly Temple Beth El, Quincy, MA and Temple Shalom, Milton, MA, 2015.1.1

Jacob’s Ladder is a single panel window depicting the staircase to heaven that Jacob dreams of during his flight from his brother Esau. In the dream, God spoke to Jacob telling him that his offspring would be many and would be blessed. Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “how awesome is this place” which appears on this panel, Mah nora ha’makom ha’zeh “for this is no other than the house of God and this is the gateway to heaven.” He named that place Beth El, the House of God.