The Spirit in Worship and

Worship in the Spirit Presenter

Professor Ruth Langer

Biography:
Professor Langer is Associate Professor of Jewish Studies and
Academic Director, Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College. She is the editor of Liturgy in the Life of the Synagogue: Studies in the History of Jewish Prayer, along with Steven Fine (Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 2005).

Title:
The Presence of God in Jewish Liturgy

Abstract:
In rabbinic tradition, God’s manifestation as Holy Spirit is a source of prophecy, not a participant in worship. That role applies better to the indwelling presence of God, the Shekhinah, or to God as present in the Jerusalem Temple, Hamaqom. The destruction of the Temple challenged both of these immanent aspects of God’s interaction with humanity. This paper explores the rabbinic understandings that God’s immanent presence continues in liturgical situations, both on the Temple Mount, in the gathered community, and in its place of gathering.