Shekhinah

The word Shekhinah is from the Hebrew root for “dwell” and refers to God’s imminent presence. In rabbinic literature, the Shekhinah represents a protective presence that can rest among the people; in Lurianic Kabbalah, “Shekhinah” refers to the feminine aspect of God and carries particular significance in unifying God’s presence in the world. In both rabbinic and kabbalistic literature, the Shekhinah joins the people of Israel in exile, and humans have a role in bringing the presence of God closer or pushing God’s presence further away.