Lilith

Biblical Figures

Lilith is a figure in Midrashic stories. She usually appears as a demon that preys on women in childbirth and young children. In Medieval Midrash, she was popularized as Adam's first companion who refused to submit to him and so was replaced by Eve.

Notable Sources

All Sources

Unveiling Lilith the Demoness

COMMENTARY

Lilith is occasionally identified as a female demon. Rashi, the eminent 11th-century French biblical commentator, provides an interpretation of Lilith in his commentary on Isaiah, aligning her with the demonic realm.

lilith The name of a female demon.

Rashi on Isaiah 34:14:4

The Tale of Lilith

MIDRASH

Lilith's story as Adam's first wife who defied him and became a demon has captivated imaginations and influenced Jewish folklore and mysticism. The Alphabet of Ben Sira, a midrashic text, recounts Lilith's creation, her rebellion, and the protective measures against her influence.

ה He said to him, "The angels appointed for healing: Sanoy, Sansanoy, Semangalof. When the Holy Blessed One created the first Adam alone, They said, (Genesis 2:18) 'It is not good for this Adam to be alone.' They created for him a wife out of the Earth like he had been, and called her Lilith. Immediately they began to challenge each other. She said, 'I will not lie below,' and he said, 'I will not lie beneath you, but only on top. For you are fit only to be in the bottom position, while I am to be the superior one…

Otzar Midrashim, The Aleph Bet of ben Sira, The Alphabet of ben Sira, (alternative version) 34

The Dangers of Sleeping Alone

TALMUD

The Talmud warns against sleeping alone due to the risk of encountering malevolent forces. In tractate Shabbat, Rabbi Chanina cautions about the spiritual dangers associated with sleeping alone, highlighting the presence of harmful entities.

Rav Pappa said: We hold that a lion does not pounce upon two people. The Gemara challenges this: But how can that be? We see that it does pounce upon two people. The Gemara answers: That statement of Rav Pappa must be in accordance with that which Rami bar Abba said: An animal does not overpower a person until he appears to it as an animal, as it is stated: “But man does not abide in honor, he is like the beasts that perish” (Psalms 49:13). However, animals do not attack people who are human in their spiritual character…

Shabbat 151b:10

Lilith and the Luminaries

KABBALAH

The mystical connection between Lilith and the luminaries offers a unique perspective on the duality of light and darkness within the Torah. The Tikkunei Zohar, a central text in Jewish mysticism, delves into the esoteric aspects of the Torah, revealing hidden meanings and connections.

Bereishit, there is two [trei] there [included in its letters]; there is fire [esh] there. And it is stated about them, And God said, "Let there be luminaries [meorot] in the firmament of the heavens" (Genesis 1:14). It is written, meort, lacking [the letter] vav — that is the written Torah. And what are luminaries? That is the oral Torah. And even though it has been explained that meort that is lacking is Lilith, there are seventy faces [understandings] to the Torah…

Tikkunei Zohar 82b:3

Lilith and the Power of Prayer

CHASIDUT

Lilith is depicted as a spiritual force that intercepts improperly elevated prayers, creating a 'worthless firmament' from them. The Ba'al Shem Tov, a central figure in Chasidic Judaism, teaches about the importance of pure intention in prayer and the spiritual consequences of failing to achieve it.

To rectify all the disqualified prayers that are imprisoned in the hands of the angels designated over this, and those are the prayers that have external thoughts mixed with them. For the disqualified prayers are given over to the hands of the appointed ones the whole year until a person prays a proper prayer. Then the disqualified prayers arise from the appointed one called Sahadiel to the angel that is called Sandalfon, and he brings it up above. But if one does not pray a proper prayer, then the appointed one waits until [Rosh Hashanah] and Yom Kippur…

Ba'al Shem Tov, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur 40:1

The Power of the Sukkah

MUSAR

The commandment of sukkah is described as having the mystical power to nullify Lilith's influence, which is particularly strong immediately after Yom Kippur. In the 17th-century ethical and mystical work Kav HaYashar, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Kaidanover explains the numerical value of 480 associated with the word 'Sukkot' and its role in counteracting Lilith's power.

Correspondingly, the Holy One Blessed is He has commanded us regarding the mitzvah of sukkah, as it is stated, “On the fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Yom Tov of Sukkos for seven days to Hashem” (Vayikra 23:34). The word “Sukkos,” which is written without a letter vav, [סכת] has a value of 480 to indicate that whoever fulfills this mitzvah fully, nullifies the power and dominion of the wicked Lilis. Therefore it seems to me that on Yom Kippur neither Satan nor Lilis has any power over Israel…

Kav HaYashar 95:3

Amulet with Hebrew inscription writen: Almighty, Sanvai, Sansanvai, Semanglof, Adam and Eve. Sanvai, Sansanvai, and Semanglof are angels believed to neutralize the power of Lilith. Ottoman Empire, mid-19th century, Gift of Dr. Harry G. Friedman, The Jewish Museum, New York.

Relatedראו גם

Sheetsדפי מקורות

Related Sheets