Divine presence
From the Book of Genesis and other scriptures, Jews have come to understand God to be particularly present at certain times and in certain situations. The presence of God has come to be known as shekhinahDivine presence in Judaism; the word used to refer to God’s presence in the world. . The word comes from the Hebrew word for ‘presence’.
Jews believe that they can experience God’s presence when they are praying together or discussing the TorahLaw; teaching. The word Torah can be used in a narrow sense to mean the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (The Five Books of Moses) and also in a wider sense to include the whole of the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud.. God’s closeness to Jews means that he can understand human suffering and so prayer is an important part of Jews developing their relationship with God.
The earth shone with His glory.
Although the actual word shekhinah does not appear in the Hebrew scriptures, the Torah includes many descriptions of humans experiencing a divine presence:
- In Genesis, the first book of the Torah, God is present in Gan EdenThe garden of Eden, used by Jews to mean heaven or paradise. when Adam and Eve eat from the Tree of KnowledgeA tree in the garden of Eden that Adam and Eve ate from despite being forbidden by God..
- In Exodus, the second book of the Torah, God’s presence guides MosesThe man chosen by God to save the Jews from slavery and take them to the promised land. In the Qur'an he is a messenger chosen by God to give the revelation of the Torah to the Israelites. through the wilderness to the Promised LandThe land promised by God to Abraham (Genesis 15:18), Moses, and the Israelites. Also known as the Land of Israel..
- When the Jews arrive in the Promised Land, God instructs Moses to build a tabernacleIn Judaism, the portable shelter for the Ark of the Covenant, which held the laws given by God to Moses and was used by the Israelites during the Exodus. In Christianity, a cabinet on the altar in some churches that holds the sacrament (bread or host) for Holy Communion., a temple that can be easily be moved from place to place, where God can
dwell among them (Exodus 25:8). Exodus also states that
the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:35).
How Jews experience shekhinah today
| Study | Worship | Prayer |
| Jews believe they can connect with God by studying Jewish scripture. They may do this in a yeshiva or at home. | Connecting with God through worshipping together began with the creation of the tabernacle. Nowadays, Jewish people worship together in the synagogue. The ner tamid burns continuously to show that God is always present. | The Talmud states that when ten or more Jews are gathered in prayer, God is present. Jews refer to this prayer group as a minyan. |
| Study | Jews believe they can connect with God by studying Jewish scripture. They may do this in a yeshiva or at home. |
|---|---|
| Worship | Connecting with God through worshipping together began with the creation of the tabernacle. Nowadays, Jewish people worship together in the synagogue. The ner tamid burns continuously to show that God is always present. |
| Prayer | The Talmud states that when ten or more Jews are gathered in prayer, God is present. Jews refer to this prayer group as a minyan. |
Different Jewish views about shekhinah
Some Orthodox JewsJews who live by the Torah and rabbinic law (halakhah) and who only accept changes that can be supported by the Torah. refer to shekhinah as a physical presence. They believe that God’s presence can be felt at the Western WallThe only part of the ancient Temple of Herod left in Jerusalem - a place of pilgrimage., which is the remaining wall of the Temple (Judaism)The central place of Jewish worship in Jerusalem from biblical times until AD70. in Jerusalem. For this reason, many Jews travel here on a pilgrimageA journey which has religious or spiritual significance, usually to an important religious place. to pray.
Because shekhinah is a feminine word in Hebrew, some Reform JewsJews who have adapted their laws and practices as modern life has changed. believe that the term refers to attributes of God that were traditionally thoughts of as feminine, such as being caring or loving.
kabbala A school of thinking and practice in Judaism that emerged in the 12th century. Followers look for deeper spiritual (or mystical) meanings behind Jewish scriptures. Jews associate shekhinah with the sefirotEmanations or qualities of God that are revealed in the physical and non-physical (spiritual) realms. . These are ten emanations (or attributes) that God reveals in both the physical and spiritual realms.
Question
How can Jews experience the presence of God in the world today?
Jews believe that they can experience the presence of God in three ways: study, worship and prayer. They study the Torah at home or in a yeshiva, they worship God at the synagogue and they often take part in group prayer.
