While Halloween is certainly NOT a Jewish holiday, our tradition is not lacking in stories and lessons from ghosts, demons, and other spooky creatures. For a little pre-Halloween fun this week, we’ll look at some of the characters and stories that haunt—and help—in our texts. And, if you want to know all there is to know about demonology and magic in Jewish tradition, check out the Throwing Sheyd podcast. If you have ever met my son, even for a moment, you probably know that he loves Harry Potter. His imagination often takes him to Hogwarts Castle where, like Harry, he imagines himself embroiled in battle against He Who Shall Not Be Named. Ask him, and he’ll be happy to tell you about Fluffy, the three-headed dog whom Harry must subdue. Unlike Cerberus, on whom Fluffy is based, Fluffy guards the Philosopher’s Stone, not the gates to the underworld. While not a [...]

While Halloween is certainly NOT a Jewish holiday, our tradition is not lacking in stories and lessons from ghosts, demons, and other spooky creatures. For a little pre-Halloween fun this week, we’ll look at some of the characters and stories that haunt—and help—in our texts. And, if you want to know all there is to know about demonology and magic in Jewish tradition, check out the Throwing Sheyd podcast. The Holiness Code in the Book of Leviticus is very clear about our proper relationship with ghosts and spirits. Do not turn to ghosts ('ovot) and do not inquire of familiar spirits (yid'onim), to be defiled by them: I the Eternal am your God, says Leviticus 19:31. And the Talmud, in Sanhedrin, explains even further what it is that we should be avoiding. What is, the rabbis wonder, one who inquires of the dead? This is one who starves himself and goes and sleeps overnight in [...]

While Halloween is certainly NOT a Jewish holiday, our tradition is not lacking in stories and lessons from ghosts, demons, and other spooky creatures. For a little pre-Halloween fun this week, we’ll look at some of the characters and stories that haunt—and help—in our texts. ​​​​​​​ And, if you want to know all there is to know about demonology and magic in Jewish tradition, check out the Throwing Sheyd podcast. The words of Tefillat HaDerech (The Traveler’s Prayer) read like the synopsis of an adventure movie. Asking for God’s protection as we set out on a journey, we prepare to face enemies and ambushes, thieves and dangerous animals—not to mention the traffic on the 405. But, the rabbis of the Talmud imagined something even scarier. In Tractate Berachot, our text teaches that one who walks alone is in danger of attack by demons, two walking together are safer, but should remain on guard, [...]