Jewish Mysticism Lecture: 'Shekhinah: The Feminine Half of God'

Daniel Matt, an expert on Kabbalah, will lead this weekend.

The lectures are sponsored by four Reform synagogues and the Hoffberger Foundation for Torah Study, according to a news release.

"Shekhinah: The Feminine Half of God," will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 11, at in Owings Mills.

Those who wish to attend the dinner must RSVP to the congregation at 410-654-9393.

No reservation is required to attend only the lecture.

Following is the lecture description, according to the release:

"God is equally female and male, according to Kabbalah. Matt will briefly trace the development of Kabbalah and then focus on the concept of Shekhina (the feminine aspect of God) from its rabbinic origins to its full-flowering in the Zohar, where Shekhinah is identified with the Sabbath Bride."

Daniel Matt has published more than 10 books, including The Essential Kabbalah that is translated into seven languages, according to an event news release.

He is currently translating and annotating the Zohar, and has, so far, completed seven volumes of The Zohar: Pritzker Edition, covering more than two-thirds of the text, the release states.

Matt received the National Jewish Book Award and Koret Jewish Book Award for his work, it states.

He has appeared in Time Magazine, as well as on National Public Radio and The History Channel.

According to the release, Matt has served for 20 years as professor at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA, and has taught at Stanford University and Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

He resides in Berkeley.

For information on the other lectures in this series, held May 11-13 in Pikesville, Reisterstown and Owings Mills, visit the article: