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The song "Hashem is here, Hashem is there..." seems to pose many interesting theological problems. What concerns would you have with this song? How would you educate your child on the challenges this song presents?

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I won't mark this as a duplicate because of the chinuch angle, but see also: mi.yodeya.com/questions/876/… – Isaac Moses Aug 5 '10 at 11:50
Yeah, I framed the question in terms of education. I find kids have a hard time with this song and wanted to see what others though about it. – RCW Aug 5 '10 at 19:43
I've never heard this song before... – Adam Mosheh May 20 '12 at 6:00

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I would explain to them that Hashem does not have a body. He is not really here or there. Ultimately Hashem is not lacking any knowledge and awareness, so I would try and explain that Hashem is all knowing. Always trying to keep in mind the level of the child and respond to their questions. Preferably I would not introduce the song, thus avoiding many of the issues it presents.

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Children cannot grasp the concept of m'lo chol h'aretz kevodo without relating it to something concrete (e.g. the old bearded grandfather in the sky). In fact, children think of Hashem as "being" in the sky because they don't see Hashem "down here".

I think the song is OK for kids in the same way we teach anthropomorphic midrashim. When the child matures, we should reteach these concepts on an appropriate level. (No source)

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Interesting point. Obviously their will be a difference in educating a 2 year old versus a 11 year old. However, when you teach anthropomorphic midrashim, wouldn't you explain that is a metaphor and can not be taken literally? I am not sure lying to children is the best education model either. Children can handle according to their level the idea that Hashem has no body or physical form. In fact they may have a harder time thinking Hashem is here and there and everywhere, "Am I sitting on God now?!?" Why introduce a false idea? What do you think? Thank you for sharing your thoughts. – RCW Aug 5 '10 at 19:50
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Thank you for that. When we do teach that Hashem is "angry", I would think effective Chinuch would be to emphasize that this is a metaphor. One might even ask the student what he or she thinks it means. Depending on the age, you might ask what we can learn from the fact that this term of anger is used regarding violations of Idolatry. I think it is important to teach the child according to their level, to let the child's questions guide you. But I would not try and mislead or create a false impression per se. – RCW Aug 6 '10 at 0:35
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YDK, you mean "pantheism" and not "panentheism" – Yahu Aug 9 '10 at 5:47
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How exactly is this song any different, say, than the verse (Jer. 23:24), הלא את השמים ואת הארץ אני מלא - "Behold, I [Hashem] fill the heavens and the earth"? Of course Hashem is beyond spatial bounds, yet He chooses to describe His immanence in these (seemingly limited) terms. – Alex Aug 10 '10 at 7:44
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However there are a number of sources which give God's place as the sky or heavens. For example, Berachos 48a: > אביי ורבא הוו יתבי קמיה דרבה אמר להו רבה למי מברכין אמרי ליה לרחמנא ורחמנא היכא יתיב רבא אחוי לשמי טללא אביי נפק לברא אחוי כלפי שמיא אמר להו רבה תרווייכו רבנן הויתו היינו דאמרי אינשי בוצין בוצין מקטפיה ידיע When Rabbah asked Rava and Abaye, who were children at the time, where God resides, they both pointed up to the sky. – Yosef Nov 26 '10 at 2:33
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