Answer:
Ruth is the great-grandmother of King David and is considered to be the first convert to the Jewish faith. Her story is important as the symbol of kindness and acceptance of God even during the hardest times.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ruth is the Biblical figure and her story is presented in the book of Ruth. She was of the Moab origin, but she married Mahlon, an Israelite man. When he died, his mother, Naomi, decided to go home to Bethlehem. Despite the persuasion that the life of Jewish people is hard, Ruth decided to follow her mother-in-law and help her. In Bethlehem, Ruth offers herself to a distant relative of Naomi’s deceased husband, Boaz, for her lineage to live on and her son’s name to be carried out. From their union came the son whose grandson was King David, one of the most important figures in Jewish history.
Ruth is therefore important for carrying on the lineage that produced the great king. More importantly, in the Jewish tradition, Ruth is a symbol of the true faith and the first convert. Her Jewishness and belief don’t come from birth, but from accepting true God. She is noted for her kindness and care – even though her people, Moab, are always presented as unkind, she shows the power of faith and love, and the possibility to change what is given by birth.
Ruth’s story is the origin of the festival of Shavuot that is celebrated 50 days after Passover.