The composition is dedicated to Jacob's firstborn son, Rauben, one of the 12 founders of the tribes of Israel. The central space is occupied by a glowing disk with Hebrew letters, symbolizing the divine principle and a spiritual connection to Jerusalem. Stylized fish and plant forms evoke the pastoral and herding lifestyle of Rauben and his descendants. Chagall interpreted this image as a symbol of inner strength, a connection to nature, and spiritual tradition.
In the late 1950s, Marc Chagall was commissioned to create stained glass windows for the synagogue of the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, located in the Judean Hills of Jerusalem. A single window was to represent each of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, each with a unique composition. Under Chagall's direction, these sketches were converted into lithographs at the Mourlot studio in Paris and printed in 1962.
Marc Chagall (1887-1985) was a painter and graphic artist, one of the most significant representatives of the 20th-century avant-garde. He is known for his unique styles, which incorporate elements of primitivism, cubism, symbolism, and surrealism.