Judaism

The Shekhinah

  • The Shekhinah refers to the Divine Presence of God.

The word Shekhinah does not appear in the Hebrew Scriptures. Although the Torah includes many descriptures where the humans experiences a Divine Presence.

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

In the Exodus (The second book of the Torah), God’s presence guides the Moses through the wilderness to the Promised Land.

When the Jews arrived at the Promised Land, God instructs the Moses to build a tabernacle, a temple that can easily be moved from place to place, where God could Dwell among them.

In early Judaism, the tabernacle was considered to house the “Divine Presence Of God”

Three ways where Jews believe they can experience the presence of God in the World today:

Study:

Jews nowadays believe they can connect with God by studying the Jewish scripture. Normally at Yeshiva or at home.

Worship:

They also believe they can connect with God by worshipping God together in a Synagogue. The ner tamed burns continuously to show that gods is always present.

Prayer:

The Talmud statues that when ten or more Jews are gathered in prayer, God is present. They refer this as a minyan.

Different views about Shekhinah:

Orthodox (some) Jews refer to the Shekhinah as a physical presence as they believe Gods presence can be felt at the Western Wall (Which is the remaining wall of the Temple in Jerusalem). Which is why many Jews travel here on a Pilgrimage to pray.

Reform Jews believe the word “Shekhinah” is a feminine word in Hebrew, as some believe that the term refers to attributes of God that traditionally thought of as feminine, such as being caring or loving.

The Nature of God:

Essential info:

  • Jews believe that God is the creator and sustainer of everything that exist on earth.

(Genesis 1). The creation is a unique event as it is the production of something without any pre-existing materials. It’s a creation ex nihilio, “out of nothing”.

  • Everything that exists on earth is intended by God.

  • Jews also believe that God gave human beings free will, meaning the evil and suffering also have to exist.

Hebrew word for God is Yawwen

Q: What is a Shema? Why is it important for Jews.?

A: The Shema is a special prayer that allows Jews to bring God into/ forefront their minds.

Creation according to the Genesis:

  • In the first four days, God creates a universe (also known as cosmos) fit to support life.

  • The next two days, God creates all living creatures including human beings,

  • On the seventh day, God rested and made this the Holy Day, Jews celebrate this day as the Shabbat (Sabbath), as on the seventh day they are remembered of Gods role and importance as the Creator and Sustainer of everything.

God as Law-giver and Judge

Jews believe God has given them many laws to follow, as these laws will help them to use their free will in a way that would be approved by God.

Facts:

  • In the Torah, there are 613 laws on Jews how they should behave on their relationships with God, with each other and with the world.

  • The Jewish word for these laws is Mitzvot. They form the basic of the Halakah, the accepted code of conduct for a good Jewish life.

  • The first ten mitzvot are what we know as the Ten Commandments; Jews refer to them as the ‘Ten Sayings’

  • These laws were given to the Moses after god has rescued them from slavery in Egypt. They are important and form the summary of the whole Law.

Judge:

  • Jews believe God judges on the basis of how well they follow these rules. (Which doesn’t just mean their actions and behavior moreover their inner selves like their heart and souls)

  • God is considered as loving, merciful nature meaning his judgements are considered fair snd tempered.

The two principal occasions in the life of a Jew is when God judges his people, which are on:

  1. Festival of Rosh Hashanah.

  • Which is a festival that celebrates the Jewish New Year. It’s where Jews consider their behavior in the proceding twelve months and ask God for his forgiveness.

  • It’s a Two-Day festival of Self-reflection prayer and repentance.

  1. Judgement after death.

  • This is not a universally held belief in Judaism.

  • However, many Jews belief that God will judge a person entire life as it determines how they will spend the afterlife.

Life after death:

  • The Torah says nothing about an Afterlife as it mostly focus on life NOW.

  • However, in the Torah there are references to the righteous being reunited with loved ones and the ones not so righteous will not.

  • Later Prophets (Like Daniel) discuss that the afterlife in terms that the body being created from dust (so it will decay) but the souls comes from the presence of God (so it will live on)

(Key belief) Resurrection:

  • Reforms Jews belief that life now is more important

  • Efforts to repair the world are a way to a good afterlife

  • Resurrection will happen in the Messianic age - where the righteous dead will and evil will not.

Reincarnation:

  • Belief in reincarnation is wrong however a small part of Jews do believe that reincarnation happens whereas the souls are being reborn.

  • Allows the souls to fulfill the Mitzvot.

shows that God is compassionate as he gives more chances to souls to get it right.

However, one reason there still a lack of agreement is that Jews aren’t concerned about the afterlife and more focused on the present life to live a life pleasing to god.

  • There are no clear teachings of Heaven or Hell Judaism it’s moreover the fact how a person lives on Earth and as what happens after death should be left to God. Jews understand that this means doing good deeds is for their own sake not having receiving a reward.

  • Although some Jews accept the idea that there will be a reward or punishment in the Afterlife, there is no clear teachings of Heaven or Hell are like.