Sages and Demons

Rabbinic literature is a major source for understanding the magic discourse in Judaism of late antiquity. Demonology was a significant part of that discourse. Both Babylonian and Palestinian talmudim contain information about demons as well as various traditions concerning the relationships between rabbis and demons. Unlike the magic evidence which focus on expelling the demons, these traditions expose a broad spectrum of interactions – from exorcism to domestication.

In this session Prof. Yuval Harari (University of Ben Gurion) will focus on the use of the demonic theme in rabbibic literature as a means for establishing the rabbis leadership and authority..