The Zohar often depicts the Shechina<\/i> as a passive, dependant \u201cfemale\u201d-figure who is without \u201ccolor\u201d or \u201clight\u201d (i.e., overt substance and strong definition) of her own, and who can thus act as a sort of selfless, malleable reflector of whatever enters her purview from above and to transmute it downward unobtrusively (see Zohar 1, 221a, 151b-152a; also see Eitz<\/i> Chaim<\/i> 6:5).<\/p>\n
Thus, in relation to the Sephirot<\/i> above it, the Shechina<\/i> is of the lowest-rank, but in relation to the worlds below it is of the very highest order (1, 172a-b; 1, 159b-160a; also see Pardes<\/i> 11:2 where Malchut<\/i> is referred to as the world\u2019s \u201carchitect\u201d). It\u2019s thus \u201cfemale\u201d in that it receives Divine flow from the active \u201cmale\u201d Sephirot<\/i> above her, but it then, ironically, transmits it in a \u201cmale\u201d way to the lower phenomena under its purview<\/p>\n
And it\u2019s said to act as the foundation stone of the world (2, 222a-b), its house (1, 172a-b), its mother (3, 249a-b), as righteousness itself (2, 139b-140a), God\u2019s own agent (2, 50b-51a), as the moon to God\u2019s sun (1, 181a-b; 3, 45b, 248b), and as God\u2019s queen (3, 69a),<\/p>\n
We see, then, that the Kabbalists combined the nearness and approachability of the Shechina<\/i> expressed above and its association with God Himself, as His very consort, partner, and intimate in the act of creation.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll see what Ramchal said about this next.<\/p>\n
(c) 2013 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman<\/p>\n
Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org<\/a><\/p>\n ———————————————————-<\/p>\n AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman’s translation of Maimonides’ “Eight Chapters” is available here<\/a> at a discount.<\/p>\n You can still purchase a copy of Rabbi Feldman’s translation of “The Gates of Repentance” here<\/a> at a discount as well.<\/p>\n Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon “The Path of the Just” and “The Duties of the Heart” (Jason Aronson Publishers).<\/p>\n Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled “Spiritual Excellence<\/a>\u201d and \u201cRamchal<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Zohar often depicts the Shechina as a passive, dependant \u201cfemale\u201d-figure who is without \u201ccolor\u201d or \u201clight\u201d (i.e., overt substance and strong definition) of her own, and who can thus act as a sort of selfless, malleable reflector of whatever … Continue reading