Spells, Demons and Dybbuks
Magic in Judaism
3 Tuesdays at 7 p.m. ET
Oct. 22 - Nov. 5
All classes will be recorded and sent to registrants.
We know what you're thinking: “There are spells and demons in Judaism?”
In taking a step back, one realizes that the religion is full of what some would call magic — from Moses to the Hanukkah story to the Leviathan, a primordial sea serpent that appears in multiple books of the Bible. And the Talmud is full of tales of demons and spirits, haunting dark places and even our own consciousness.
More contemporary fields of study, including Kabbalah and other forms of mysticism, have added a rich new layer of supernatural questioning to the magical Jewish mix.
In this unique new three-part course from My Jewish Learning, Rabbi Geoffrey Dennis — an expert on all things mystical and magical in Jewish lore — will teach us about the basics, from dybbuks (soul possessors) to golems (creatures made out of clay, often to defend Jews from antisemitic attacks) to Jewish grimoires (books of spells, charms and amulet-making instructions). Yes, they all exist.
We can’t cast our own spells here at My Jewish Learning — but we know you’ll leave the course with a deeper understanding of the richness of Judaism and its many different realms.
About Your Teacher
Geoffrey Dennis is rabbi of Congregation Kol Ami in Flower Mound, Texas. He is also Lecturer in Rabbinics at the University of North Texas, where he teaches courses in Kabbalah and in rabbinic literature. He is the author of two books, including “The Encyclopedia of Myth, Magic, and Mysticism,” which is now in its second edition and was selected as a runner up for the 2007 National Jewish Book Award. As an expert in the field of Jewish magic and mysticism, he has authored numerous articles, anthology chapters, and academic encyclopedia entries, including “Claynation: The Golem in Cinema and the Fate of European Jewry.” In his free time he enjoys film, Dungeons and Dragons, and blacksmithing.
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About My Jewish Learning
My Jewish Learning is the internet's leading pluralistic Jewish education resource. We offer thousands of articles, videos, live classes and other resources to help you navigate all aspects of Judaism and Jewish life — from Jewish ritual and practice to texts to history and culture.
My Jewish Learning is geared toward all backgrounds and levels of knowledge and is a part of 70 Faces Media, the largest Jewish digital media organization in North America.