The Divine Presence (Shekhinah) (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))

Shekhinah (The Divine Presence)

What is Shekhinah?

• Shekhinah means “God’s divine presence”

• Jews believe that God continues to work in the world today through his divine presence

• Shekhinah is based on a Hebrew word meaning “dwelling” or “settling” and relates to the presence of God, in a place

• Although the word Shekhinah does not appear in the Hebrew scriptures, the Torah includes many descriptions where humans experience a divine presence:

  • In Genesis, the first book of the Torah, God is present in Gan Eden when Adam and Eve eat from the Tree of Knowledge

• In Exodus, the second book of the Torah, God’s presence guides Moses through the wilderness to the Promised Land:

  • When the Jews arrive in the Promised Land, God instructs Moses to build a tabernacle, a temple that can easily be moved from place to place, where God could dwell among them (Exodus 25:8)

• The Shekhinah was often pictured as a cloud or as a pillar of fire and is referred to as the glory of God

• God told Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, and he instructed him to build a tabernacle, a portable temple, in which God would dwell as they travelled:

  • Jewish people believe that the presence of God is felt within the Synagogue

• When God told Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt:

  • The tabernacle kept the presence of God with the Jews as they travelled, and maintained their connection with him

  • This connection has continued through worship today in the synagogue

  • As God directed, a light burns in front of the ark within the synagogue

  • This represents God's divine presence

What is the Significance of Shekhinah?

• The Tenakh references the Shekinah being at the temple, Mount Zion and Jerusalem, which is what makes it special for some Jewish people

• When Moses received the Torah he was surrounded by the Shekinah, which means the Mitzvot comes directly from God

• The Shekinah teaches that God’s presence is in the world and therefore believers may come across it at any time

• The Shekinah shows that the prophets of the Tenakh were truly inspired by God and so their message must be true

• Some Jews believe there are three ways they can experience the presence of God in the world today

• Some Jews believe the Shekhinah never left the Temple and that is why Israel has a special spirituality

• It is believed that through the Shekhinah God’s presence can be felt, and that it creates a sense of peace and calm g. when Shabbat candles are lit