Belief And Teachings Of A Second Religion 2:1:2

Question 1

What is the shekhinah

Answer 1

It’s a way of defining the Almighty’s presence in the world it’s known as ‘the majestic presence or manifestation of God which has descended to dwell on men.’

Question 2

How is the shekhinah shown in the Torah

Answer 2

• The Torah speaks of Gods presence going with Moses to guide him through the wilderness to the promised land ‘My presence will go with you and you will receive rest” Exodus 33:14
• The Devine presence is associated with clouds ‘When Moses went up on the mountains, the clouds covered it and the glory of the Lord styled in Mount Sinai’ Escorial 24:15

-God had Moses make the tabernacle which is where Israelites built for Gods presence to go inside.
‘Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them’ Exodus 25:8

Question 3

What’s different understandings of the shekhinah for Jews today

Answer 3

• some Orthodox Jews base themselves on the teachings of Maimonides, which describes the shekhinah as the light created as the link between God and the world
• others believe the shekhinah simply means God and they are unchangeable words.
• Shekhinah is held by some Jews to represent the feminine attributes of the presence of God as shekhinah is a feminine world in Hebrew.

Question 4

Why is the shekhinah important for Jews

Answer 4

• It shows the closeness between Jews and God and how he is so holy and awesome that they must have a deep respect for each other. And this idea can be seen in using G-d as a way of respecting God
• The teaching that Moses was surrounded by the shekhinah when he received the Torah means Moses received the Mira it’s directly for God so they are Gods words
• The shekhinah teaches that Gods presence is in the world and so people come across the shekhinah all the time
• The shekhinah shows that the prophets of the Tenekah were truest inspired by God

Question 5

Why is the different understanding of the shekhinah important for Jews today

Answer 5

• the different meaning shows God is far beyond human thought and is entirely immutable (unchangable) and there’s many ways of understanding his presence
• it also lets Jews to relate to God to the Morden world such as feminism and if God is masculine
• it makes it easier for Jews and Christians come together in their search for God