The Divine Presence (Shekhinah) (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))
Revision Note
Written by: Glenn Millington
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
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
Study | Prayer | Worship |
|---|---|---|
Jews believe they can connect with God by studying Jewish scripture. They may do this in a Yeshiva or at home | The Talmud states that when ten or more Jews are gathered in prayer, God is present. Jews refer to this group prayer as a minyan | Connecting with God through worshipping as a group 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 |
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
Worked Example
Explain two ways in which belief about Shekhinah influences Jews today
(4 marks)
Answer:
One way it influences Jews is that they believe that it is possible to connect with God whilst studying religious texts. This may make Jewish people more focused when studying (2 marks)
Another way is that they believe that God is present with them during collective worship in the synagogue. The presence of God helps to create a sense of peace and calm (2 marks)
Examiner Tips and Tricks
For this topic, make sure that you know what Shekhinah is, as this may be a multiple-choice, 2-mark question
You may also be asked the ways in which belief in Shekhinah influences Muslims today as a 4-mark question (see worked example)
A 5-mark question may ask to explain two beliefs about the Shekhinah and to refer to sacred writings or another source of Jewish belief and teaching in your answer. When considering what to include from sacred writings, think about the many descriptions where humans experience a divine presence in the Torah
A 12-mark evaluation question may ask you to consider the significance of Shekhinah on Jewish beliefs and practices. When answering, think about how Shekhinah is important to Jewish people when studying, praying and worshipping
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