Ask the Rabbi
- Torah and Jewish Thought
- Emuna - Jewish Thought
- Questions on Hashem
Question
Is it true that the Rambam and Ramban differed regarding the Shekinah? Did the Rambam believe the Shekinah was a creation of G-d and did the Ramban believe that Shekinah was G-d or part of G-d? Is there a valid difference of opinion?
Answer
To be more exact, the Rambam (Guide for Perplexed I, 64) writes that sometimes (!) the Kavod or Shechina was a light created by God to represent Him (as inferred in Shmot 24, 7 and 40, 35, the kabbalistic sphere of Malchut), while in other places it refers to God Himself (ibid, 33, 18-20). The Ramban (on Breishit 46, 1) disagrees strongly with the first possibility. Both of them are giants in Jewish thought and totally valid opinions.
Gam zu l’tovah and Kol man d’avid Rachmana l’tavavid
Rabbi Gideon Weitzman | Adar 17, 5777

GOD
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Am i being tested constantly?
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