Judaism - Shekhinah

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What is Shekhinah?

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Shekhinah is a way of describing God’s presence in the world, often referred to as 'the majestic presence of God which has descended to dwell among us'.

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What does 2 Chronicles 7:1–3 say about Shekhinah?

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It describes the Dedication of the Temple, where fire came down from heaven, consumed the offerings, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple, preventing priests from entering. Israelites worshiped and gave thanks, acknowledging God's enduring love.

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Why do Jewish people believe in the Shekhinah?

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It allows a personal relationship with God, is mentioned in Ezekiel as dwelling in the Temple, and is seen in the Exodus story as the burning bush and Moses’ radiant face after encountering Shekhinah on Mount Sinai.

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What are the divergent understandings of Shekhinah in Orthodox Judaism?

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Some believe Shekhinah simply means God, others see it as an expression of God's relation to the world, and some view it as the Jewish term for the Holy Spirit.

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How do Orthodox Jews view Shekhinah?

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They believe Shekhinah is like a light created to be a link between God and the world.

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How do Reform/Liberal Jews view Shekhinah?

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They believe Shekhinah represents the feminine characteristics of God's presence, as Shekhinah is a feminine word in Hebrew.

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Why are the different understandings of Shekhinah important?

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They show that God is beyond human thought, allow Judaism to relate to modern ideas like feminism, facilitate interfaith dialogue, and affirm that the Mitzvot are directly from God.

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Why might the Shekhinah be considered unimportant?

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Due to differing ideas about its nature, meaningful conversation is difficult, and it does not affect daily Jewish life like the Mitzvot.