It's very likely that the term was borrowed by
Frank Herbert from the Kabbala, the compilation of Jewish mysticism the core of which is entitled HaZohar (The Book of Splendor) ascribed to Rabbi Shimon bar-Yohai, ascribed by Jews to have been written in the 1st century C.E. Modern scholars ascribe it to a sephardic Jewish author around the 13th century. The term itself is Hebrew, K'fitzat ha-Derekh, literally, "The Leap of the Way," by means of which an initiate may travel some distance instantaneously, appearing to be in two or more places at once. Also, the title " Bene Gesserit", resembles an appellation of the Jewish people, Bene Jeshurun, especially as "Gesserit" is pronounced with a soft "G". "Bene Jeshurun" means, roughly "Sons of Israel".