Shekhinah (שכינה) is the presence or manifestation of God which has descended to "dwell" among humanity. The term never appears in the Hebrew Bible; later rabbis used the word when speaking of God dwelling either in the Tabernacle or amongst the people of Israel. The root of the word means "dwelling". Of the principal names of God, it is the only one that is of the feminine gender in Hebrew grammar. Some believe that this was the name of a female counterpart of God, but this is unlikely as the name is always mentioned in conjunction with an article (e.g.: "the Shekhina descended and dwelt among them" or "He removed Himself and His Shekhina from their midst"). This kind of usage does not occur in Semitic languages in conjunction with proper names. The term, however, may not be a name, as it may merely describe the presence of God, and not God Himself.
Shekhinah (Hebrew: שְׁכִינָה, Modern: Šəḵīna, Tiberian: Šeḵīnā)1 is the English transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning "dwelling" or "settling" and denotes the presence of God in a place. This concept is found in Judaism and the Torah, as mentioned in Exodus 25:8.
Shekinah in Exile
“The Shekinah in exile..... the Presence of God within creation. She is waiting to be found by the wandering soul who roams the earth, blindly seeking for fulfillment. She is bound in a castle and writes a letter in deep grief for she is alone, and like the soul is waiting to be found and unite. Her letter is written with her tears and given in trust to the wind (ruach) so that the soul may one day receive this letter and return.....” - Mike Bais
