shekhinah

• Shekinah


  The place where God's presence rests and can be felt
• Shekinah


  • God's presence can be felt not only in the synagogue, but everywhere because God is omnipresent
  • God's presence rests at the site of the destroyed temple in Israel, specifically the Western Wall
• Shekinah


  1. After receiving the Ten Commandments, God instructs Moses to build a tabernacle (portable temple) so that God can dwell among the people

  2. As the Israelites journey, God's presence guides and protects them through pillars of cloud and fire

  3. The tabernacle becomes a permanent temple in Jerusalem, where God's glory fills the temple
• The Western Wall


  It is the only remaining part of the destroyed temple in Jerusalem, so Jews believe God's presence still rests there
• Significance of the Shekinah

  • Allows Jews to experience and feel close to God through prayer
  • Connects Jews to each other in a community through their shared belief in the one God
  • Can refer to God's female qualities, such as sustaining and caring for creation
• Shekinah in the Bible

  • In the Psalms, the Shekinah is used to describe how God allows the earth to grow and provide for His creation of humans and animals