Shechina

asked 5 years ago

Greetings Rabbi Shlita,
In honor of the holiday of Purim, they say, “Everyone who reaches out a hand is given a hand.”
I wanted to ask what is meant by the concept of Shekhinah? And also in the Sefirot (not necessarily the role of each one but in the overall idea), and especially when the Kabbalists direct their prayers, are they praying to the actual Sefirot?
I didn’t see any mention of this here on Shutim when searching for titles.

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מיכי Staff answered 5 years ago

The question is too general, and therefore even though everyone who extends a hand is given, it is only when there is a request and there is something to give. Shekhinah is a concept that represents all of Israel (especially as the Holy One). If you are expecting a painting of the Shekhinah, I cannot provide that. In Shomer Emunim, the ancient explains that the Kabbalists pray to God (His invisible essence) through the Sefirot, and not to the Sefirot or to something outside of Him. Although the Poskim in the Bible make it difficult to pray through intermediaries, he explains there that he is talking about intermediaries in the worlds of the universe (up to the moon, in philosophical-Aristotelian terminology), but that what is above this is not an intermediary but a garment that is part of God Himself.

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בית הלחמי replied 5 years ago

And I received from my rabbis, in precise handwriting, that “all the Poshtak give him a hand”, and I want to say that they respect him with two contradictions until he is blind and I blush.
Although of course it is not a matter for the kosher questioner, it is a matter for others.