The Shekhinah, Maternal Instincts, and Transcendence
This essay examines the evolution of the Shekhinah as a maternal divine presence from ancient Jewish sources through contemporary applications in artificial intelligence ethics and therapeutic spaces. Drawing upon rabbinic literature, kabbalistic texts, and recent discussions by AI pioneers like Geoffrey Hinton, I argue that the Shekhinah's maternal characteristics provide a theological archetype for embedding compassionate care into both artificial intelligence systems and therapeutic relationships. The therapeutic space emerges as a contemporary locus where the dynamics of being and non-being coexist, offering a framework for understanding both divine presence in suffering and the ethical imperatives for AI development. Through close analysis of midrashic, aggadic, and mystical sources, alongside contemporary scholarship on AI ethics and therapeutic theodicy, this study demonstrates how ancient wisdom traditions can inform modern technological and healing practices.