As we\u2019d expect, Ramchal has a rather unique, poetic understanding of the Shechina<\/i> in his other writings. He says at one point that \u201cthe first thing God wanted to occur in the world was universal governance, which is to say, His own interactions with the world, and His presence in it. This phenomenon is termed the \u2018Shechina\u2019\u201d. He goes on to say there that that\u2019s to say that \u201cGod is said to \u2018dwell\u2019 (shochein<\/i>) among His created beings because He functions that way in the world\u201d (Sefer Kinat Adonai Tzevaot<\/i>). In other words, the idea of the Shechina<\/i> is a representation of the process by which God comes into close and consequential contact with the world.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere he says — somewhere along the same lines — that the term Shechina<\/i> is a depiction of the \u201cspace\u201d (or physical reality as we know it) in which the world exists, and in which He bestows upon it (Adir Bamarom<\/i> p. 293). This also points to the intimacy he associated between the Shechina<\/i> and God Himself, and with the world itself which the Shechina<\/i> and God both envelope and interact with.<\/p>\n
While these aren\u2019t ways of identifying God Himself with the Shechina<\/i>, they do underscore just how God and it function together, and how crucial the Shechina<\/i> is to God\u2019s plans. Let\u2019s see next what he says about it here, in Klach<\/i>.<\/b><\/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":" As we\u2019d expect, Ramchal has a rather unique, poetic understanding of the Shechina in his other writings. He says at one point that \u201cthe first thing God wanted to occur in the world was universal governance, which is to say, … Continue reading