The Shechinah

is like the ocean
turquoise deep
healing and smoothing
shores of inland discontent;
waves breaking white,
diamonds in the sun
spilling across the sand,
riches, for all who
immerse themselves
in her translucent waters.

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By Simcha Wasserman

Simcha Wasserman lives with his wife and family in Toronto, Canada. He has regularly contributed poems to magazines and periodicals such as Perspectives in Toronto, Concord in London, and Wellsprings in New York. Click here to buy his book.

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4 Comments

Jean albany, ny April 13, 2011

Shechinah I can only imagine a Divine one such as
G-d encompassing BOTH masculine and feminine traits.

Any division of such was a mistranslation of the sacred writings, or an attempt to convert them to the political or social mores of the times. Reply

Yechezkel Gold Jerusalem, Israel June 30, 2010

Nice, effective imagery. Very true: seeing also the "shores of discontent" as manifestations of the Shekhina does indeed smooth them. Reply

Menachem Posner for Chabad.org May 11, 2009

To Harry We know that G-d is neither male nor female. We also know that in all of our literature He is referred to as a male. This resonates with our understanding of G-d as the Creator and giver of everything. On the other hand the word “Shechinah” is surely feminine.

How does this fit? According to the kabbalists, G-d created the world through a long chain of self-imposed contractions until He had a "space" where we could exist. In this chain, His presence gets passed along from reality to reality—each one giving to the next that that which it received from the reality before it. As each of these manifestations gives, it plays the male role. As it receives, it plays the female role.

Hence, when we refer to reflection of His presence (such as His presence on earth is termed), the female terminology is applied.

Please see Is G-d a He? for some fascinating insights and honest searching on this matter. Reply

Harry Strout Walnut Creek, CA May 11, 2009

shechinah Shalom Rabbi.

I have been told by friends of mine that the word shechinah represents God's feminine attribute. I objected by stating it was God's presence but was gender neutral.

That it was only God's presence on earth. To my thinking, God is always masculine. But, in a mixed crowd I do not argue God's gender.

Please clarify for me whether the term shechinah is the feminine presence of God.
I never looked at the shechinah as feminine.

Book and web references would be appreciated.

Tdah Rabbah. Reply

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