The Shekhinah and Marriage

The word “Shekhinah” (shoreish: שכן) refers to the esoteric idea that this softer, relatively less immense energy of G-d could dwell in the physical world (without literally killing someone in the process). It is still powerful. In relatively newer languages, you could translate it to “divine presence”; though Western and Far-Eastern languages can not capture the full meaning of such powerful words…

If the full force of Hashem was in the physical world, it would be impossible for us to physically be alive since He is all-powerful, and how can one withstand His energy? Proof of this idea? The fact that when HaShem interacts in the physical world, there’s a sense of energy radiating from what he’s communicating through. The burning bush or the cloud hovering over Bnei Yisrael (Children of Israel) in Bamidbar (the wilderness) are clear examples of this.

The Hebrew word “Shekhinah” has the same shoreish (root) as Mishkan (tabernacle) – the dwelling place of HaShem in this world. The Mishkan was a temporary, portable sanctuary, the Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple) was a non-moving structure. Ideally, this is how marriage should be. The relationship we have with Ha-Kadosh Barukh-Hu is one where we claim that we can be the only one who has the Shekhinah which is why we have extended prohibitions against intermarriage and idolatry. Since the Shekhinah can only rest with us, then we can only be with members of our nation. 

Marriage is a sacred and mystical concept that can not be scientifically explained. Adam was born from the ground. His Hebrew name literally implies that he is an Earthling. Khava (Eve) was brought from the flesh of Adam. They are one flesh. Being married in the Kosher way is important. Some believe that the Shekhinah can rest upon one who gets married. Thus, one can not [spiritually] afford to ruin the sanctity of marriage through a non-kosher relationship. A Jewish man can only share his [full] flesh with the Jewish woman he is married to. He can only give his seed to his wife. That is the start of a pure marriage.