Buzz
Folklore and traditions can be wild, intriguing, thrilling, perplexing, and awe-inspiring. A major part of storytelling often delves into the realm of the terrifying. People are drawn to fear, and Jewish folklore embraces tales of creatures lurking in the night, the ocean, and deep within forests. Some of these beings even share similarities with widely known monsters like vampires, genies, and demons—though these demons come with their own chilling twists!
Many Jewish demons and legendary creatures have gained significant recognition in modern culture, and you're likely to recognize at least a few, whether from books or films. There are others that may be entirely new to you, and some you might wish you never encountered! If you’re curious to know more, diving into the mysteries of Jewish mysticism through Kabbalah or exploring Talmudic texts could take you deeper. However, this list should provide a solid introduction.
10. Dybbuks
Dybbuks are malevolent entities in Jewish folklore believed to possess the living, often linked to the cause of mental disorders. According to the myth, a dybbuk is born when a person dies while burdened with numerous sins and then roams the earth until it finds a living host to inhabit.
To expel the dybbuk, a rabbi would conduct an exorcism, assisted by ten other men clad in burial shrouds. The key part of the ritual involved ensuring the dybbuk was freed from the space between the nail and skin of the host's big toe, so that it wouldn’t cause further harm to the body during its departure.
The legend of the dybbuk gained widespread attention with the 1916 silent film Der Dybbuk, a Yiddish-language drama that depicted the creature. In more recent times, a 'dybbuk box' was sold on eBay. This wine cabinet was said to be inhabited by a dybbuk, bringing nightmares and misfortune to its owner. Kevin Mannis, the seller, later admitted that the story behind the box was simply a creative writing experiment.
9. Lilith
Lilith, a demon from Jewish folklore, has grown in prominence, especially known for her threat to pregnant women and infants due to her backstory. She is believed to have been Adam’s first wife, created from clay at the same time as Adam, before Eve was made from Adam’s rib.
The tale suggests that Lilith defied Adam, invoked the sacred name of God (the forbidden name often symbolized by the four letters: YHWH), and was cast out of the Garden of Eden. She is briefly mentioned in the Book of Isaiah and in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Curiously, the reference appears in a hymn used for exorcism rituals.
In modern interpretations, Lilith symbolizes more empowering female ideals than the murderous demoness of her early myth. Her legend tells that she left Adam because he was domineering, seeking independence and freedom. She fled to the Red Sea, where she supposedly gave birth to hundreds of demon offspring each day and declared herself an adversary to both Adam and Eve. Over time, she has come to embody themes of equality, autonomy, and sexual liberation, breaking free from Adam’s oppressive control.
8. Estries (Vampires)
Estries are female vampires in Jewish folklore, believed to have targeted Hebrew communities. The name comes from the French word 'strix,' meaning 'night owl.' These creatures were said to be strikingly beautiful and attacked without discrimination. According to the Sefer Hasidim, a religious account from medieval Germany, estries were created on the first Friday but were unfinished by the time God rested on the Sabbath. Other stories claim they were born at the Tower of Babel and had the ability to fly after applying special oils to their bodies.
Estries could be controlled by grabbing their hair, forcing them to swear an oath, or by physically striking them. To recover from a direct blow, an estrie needed to consume bread and salt from the person who attacked them. They also had the ability to shapeshift in order to deceive others into handing over their food. While it's unclear how they could be identified, there are numerous accounts of estries being recognized even in their transformed forms, with some being killed as a result.
7. Nephilim
Nephilim are giant beings that existed mostly before Noah’s flood, born from the union of the Watchers (angels sent by God to deliver messages) and human women. While some describe them as heroes, there is considerable debate about their true nature, and they are often referred to as 'fallen ones.' More specifically, they are considered the offspring of the fallen angels known as Watchers, who intermingled with humans.
Before the flood, the world had descended into wickedness, and the unnatural nephilim are often cited as one of the key reasons the flood became necessary. Although they are not deeply explored in the Bible and only mentioned briefly, these giants were considered fearsome beings.
6. The Tigris of the Bei Ilai
In the mythical forest of Bei Ilai, there is said to live a lion, the 'Tigris,' so immense that there is a gap of 9 cubits (approximately 14 feet or 4.3 meters) between its ears. According to the legend, when the Roman emperor Hadrian requested Rabbi Joshua ben Hananiah to show him this colossal creature, the rabbi warned him against it due to its extraordinary nature. Undeterred, Hadrian insisted, and from nearly 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) away, the lion's roar could be heard.
The sound of the lion's roar had devastating consequences: all the pregnant women in the area miscarried, and the walls of Rome crumbled. As the lion drew closer, roaring again after another mile, all the men in Rome lost their teeth, and the emperor himself fell from his throne. This terrifying lion is certainly not something anyone would wish to encounter! Fortunately for Emperor Hadrian, the rabbi prayed for the lion to return to its home, and it did.
5. Shedim
Shedim are spirits or demons in Jewish folklore, but they differ greatly from the demons depicted in Christian or Muslim traditions. Over time, they were seen as a less malevolent version of Jinn (or genies). Sometimes referred to as 'other gods,' they are considered to be deities other than the God of Israel and thus are regarded as inherently evil. They appear only twice in the Bible, always in a negative light, such as in Deuteronomy 32:17, which says:
“They sacrificed to devils and not to God: to gods whom they knew not: that were newly come up, whom their fathers worshipped not.”
In this passage, 'devils' and 'gods whom they knew not' refer to the shedim, who are always mentioned in the plural form. Later, they came to resemble the Arab Jinn, in that they can also be killed with iron weapons and are more malevolent than the fallen angels found in Christian beliefs. However, in some Kabbalistic practices, the shedim are regarded as less evil, even helpful to those performing rituals aimed at divining the future.
4. Golems
No, not Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. Golems are creatures fashioned from clay or other lifeless materials, created to assist a community in times of crisis. They are said to be the work of Jewish mystics, experts in Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism), and serve as a testament to the creator's skill. However, in most stories where golems are brought into being to help, they often end up causing more problems than they solve.
One famous account involves Rabbi Judah Loew of Prague, who crafted a golem to protect the Jewish community of Prague from antisemitic violence. However, after the golem became uncontrollably violent, it was destroyed. Some legends claim the golem still lies dormant in the attic of the Altneushul in Prague, awaiting a time when it might be reanimated to serve once again.
The exact nature of the golem's violence remains unclear, but the act of its creation by a man may reflect God's own act of creating humankind. Just as God created humans, granting them the freedom to choose between good and evil, golems, created to solve a particular problem, often end up exacerbating the very issues they were meant to address, sometimes making them far more dangerous and terrifying.
3. Leviathan
The leviathan is an enormous sea creature, believed to be indestructible. Originally, there were two leviathans, a male and a female, but God killed the female to prevent them from reproducing and wreaking havoc on the world. According to Jewish belief in Olam Ha-ba (the “World to Come”), after the arrival of the Messiah, it is said that the leviathan will be served as a feast.
When the leviathan grows hungry, it generates heat from its mouth, causing the waters around it to boil. Its eyes glow with such intensity that they illuminate even the surface of the water. The only creature that the leviathan fears is a tiny worm called 'kilbit,' which attaches to the gills of large fish and kills them. However, these worms are exceedingly small, so encountering one is highly unlikely. Still, it’s best to avoid the leviathan altogether.
2. Agrat bat Mahlat
Agrat bat Mahlat is a Talmudic demon, often depicted traveling with a legion of 180,000 destructive angels. It was believed she struck on Wednesday and Sabbath nights. Some consider Agrat bat Mahlat to be another manifestation of the demon Lilith, though she has distinct references in the Bible.
This demon is said to have had a sexual encounter with the sleeping King David, resulting in the birth of Asmodeus. Agrat primarily attacks men, especially while they sleep, and is often likened to a succubus in various texts. This is definitely not an experience any man would wish to have, and it’s advised that men avoid sleeping alone on nights when she is most active.
1. The Witch of Endor
The Witch of Endor was a sorceress consulted by Israel’s first king, Saul. She possessed a talisman capable of summoning the dead. In disguise, Saul asked her to use it to bring forth the prophet Samuel’s spirit, even though Saul had previously outlawed sorcery in Israel. When the witch summoned Samuel, the prophet foretold Saul's death the very next day but provided no guidance on how to change his fate.
The next day, Saul and his three sons indeed perished, and Israel fell into the hands of the Philistines. This encounter is less terrifying than it is chilling—while the witch predicted Saul's doom, she could offer no counsel to prevent it from happening.
