How does the Shema establish the Jewish view of God? What is meant in Judaism by the
idea of God’s transcendence and immanence? How does this relate to ideas in the
Kabbalah?
The Shema is the last statement from Deuteronomy 6:1–9, and it states “Hear, O Israel The
Lord is our God, the Lord alone” (Van Voorst 51). The Shema officially establishes the
Jewish view of God as one and unique. It first significance is that God is not many, but
God is one. The Shema establishes the Jewish view of God as monotheistic and rejects all
forms of polytheism. Furthermore, it describes the Jewish view of God as “one universal
law of righteousness that holds sway over all.” God is not described as what humans name
as gods, and the Shema establishes this uniqueness, which also rose prohibition in Judaism
of making images of God. Instead, it institutes that God is not like anything else.
The idea of God as transcendence means that God is far beyond the scope of the created
world. God is described as boundless, having no beginning or end (Ein Sof) , and no
limitations of space or knowledge. The Jewish idea of God as transcendent signifies that he
is completely different than anything else. However, God is also described as immanent,
which means that he is near and present to all creatures. The idea of God as immanent is
portrayed many times in the Tanakh, where there are stories of God’s “spirit” and