The divine presence

The Divine Presence

Shekinah

• Represents God’s presence in the world.
• The term ‘Shekinah’ is not explicitly mentioned in the Torah. The idea of God’s dwelling among his people is implied in several places.
• Its concept is linked with the Sabbath. Some Jewish sources say that the Shekinah provides an extra soul or an extra spiritual dimension on the Sabbath.
• In Torah Ark in synagogues, a light that always remains lit represents the Shekinah.

Manifestations of the Shekinah

• Seen in the pillar of cloud and of fire that led the Israelites through the desert.
• Present in the Jerusalem Temple, where it rested upon the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies.
• In exile, the Shekinah is said to have travelled with the Jews, revealing that God’s presence is not restricted to one geographical location.

Significance of the Shekinah

• Assures Jews of God’s love and protection, according to rabbinic thought.
• Demonstrates God’s immanence, the belief that God is present in and concerned with daily life.
• The final redemption of the Jewish people will be marked by the return of the Shekinah to the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem, according to some Jewish traditions.

Remember, the Shekinah is an important aspect of Jewish concepts of God, symbolising his presence and relationships with his people.