Are Demons really Jewish?

Sef Townsend and John Heyderman

The idea of demons (Hebrew: sheydim) is not marginal to our tradition but an important part of how our ancestors made sense of the hidden forces that shape our world. The Vilna Gaon accused Maimonides of being led astray by “accursed philosophy” to deny their existence. The fascination with demons goes back to the Second Temple period and before; they seem to have a reality that goes beyond the purely rational.

In this study session we will cast an eye on demons in folklore, sacred texts and philosophy. There will be chavruta (study in pairs) along with illustrations through the telling of folktales.