Rabbi Ari Shvat
Question
Very little kosher material about sheidim I can find is written about them. Forgive me...I dont want to throw my frustration onto anyone but too much I read is metaphorical or some sort of reason why we shouldnt think about them. Or the shedim arent to be taken literally etc. As a chabad chosssid I am a strong believer in the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, kabbalah etc. Can I ask: When the Baal Shem Tov banished the ש"דס to dwell in the wilderness. Can they still take physical form as described in the Talmud? Why do we rarely ever hear any stories today about them? Can you elaborate as much as you can? Thank you!
Answer
There are many things in life beyond that which is seen by the naked eye (e.g. sound waves, internet waves), and among them are what we call malachim (angels) and sheidim (negative angels). As opposed to other religions, Judaism believes that they have no free-will, are not independent, and are just robot-like messengers doing the will of God. This can include germs, viruses etc.. The Talmud mentions beings called sheidim, but also states, “one who worries about them they bother him, while he who doesn’t worry about them, they don’t bother him” (Psachim 110b). Similarly, among the rishonim there are different opinions. The Rashba, for example, talks about them but the Rambam whenever he must, explains the concept in rational terms (e.g. Hil. Rotze’ach 12, 5). Nevertheless, all agree that man and God, and no other forces, run our lives. Only we and God have free will, and accordingly we’re not allowed to believe in superstitions or the like. Many point out that certain powers that may have existed, aren’t found any more today in our countries (e.g. Magen Avraham 173, 1), and Rav Kook adds from the kabbalists that in the Holy Land of Israel, all the more so, that one need not worry about sheidim. Regarding the Hassidic understanding, you should ask a Hassidic website.
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