With Halloween approaching this weekend, this week’s Daily Kavanot will share some meaningful tales of ghosts and spirits from Jewish tradition.
Perhaps the oldest ghost story in Jewish tradition comes from 1 Samuel 28, and concerns the first king of Israel, Saul. Fearful of the Philistine forces encamped around him, Saul sought Divine guidance through dreams, through priests, and through prophets, but no guidance came. Desperate, Saul decided to seek counsel from Samuel, the late prophet who guided him in his youth, even though Saul himself had banned the practice of necromancy throughout Israel.
He then traveled to the village of Ein Dor to meet with a witch who spoke to the dead. She refused to help, out of fear that the king might learn of her crime, but after Saul revealed himself and assured her of her safety, she raised a robed spirit.
Saul bowed low to the spirit of Samuel and asked him for counsel, but Samuel replied, “Why do you ask me, when God has turned away from you and become your adversary?” Samuel then informed Saul that he and his sons would perish in battle with the Philistines, while David would inherit the kingdom of Israel.
The Bible portrays Saul as a kind and gallant leader, but one who is easily influenced by others and prone to abandoning his morals during moments of conflict or stress. He defies God’s command by showing mercy to the Amalekites at the suggestion of his soldiers, he pursues David out of fear and jealousy, and here, he once again compromises his principles out of fear by seeking out the ghost of Samuel when he cannot obtain Divine inspiration. His downfall inspires us to consider: How do we maintain our morals and principles in the face of adversity?
—Rabbi Josh Knobel
Note: This Kavanah was accompanied by a message from our clergy on the recent surge of antisemitism in Los Angeles and around the nation. Read it HERE.