From the Rav’s Desk – Q&A on demons and more

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Is it true that in today’s times demons no longer exist?

There is a very well-known saying that the Baal Shem Tov eradicated the demons from the world and therefore there are no longer any demons today. Is this true and is there a source for this statement?

Answer:

What is documented is that the Besht eradicated the demons from being found in settled developed areas, however not that he banished them from planet Earth, and on the contrary the Halachic dangers of demons applies even today as recorded in the Poskim.

Explanation: I am not aware of any source for this statement, and on the contrary, the concept of demons are recorded in Toras of Talmidei Habesht, including in the Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe in which there are a number of restrictions and laws recorded due to danger of demons. Would all these laws now be obsolete, and if so then why were they recorded? Did the Alter Rebbe not get the memo that the Baal Shem Tov got rid of them? Likewise, the Machaneh Chaim in a responsa written in the mid-1800s discusses an entire Halachic question relating to an actual case that occurred in his days involving demons and in no area does he dismiss their existence and rather takes the story very seriously and addresses the Halachas relating to it. In truth however there is no smoke without fire, and hence seemingly the above unsubstantiated rumor in the name of the Besht is based on the following documented statement regarding the Besht: In Shivchei Habesht it is recorded that the Besht would use demons for various purposes including to help save the Jewish people from various threats and calamities. In his Sefer Dvar Torah, the Munkatcher writes that the Besht later regretted this because of the damage that these demons can cause and the fact that they were not to be trusted in their missions and he therefore distanced them settled communities, i.e. Yishuv. Seemingly, this simply means that he banished them from being around communities of people which in any event they don’t really have permission to be in, as they are only commonly found in deserted areas. To take this statement and expand it to mean that he banished the demons from the entire planet Earth, I would say is an overstatement with no substantiation.

Sources: See Admur Shemiras Guf Halacha 6 and Kunrtus Achron 1; Machaneh Chaim E.H. 3:55; Shivcheiy Habesht p. 55 [p. 26 in Kapust 1815 print]; Devar Torah Mahadura Teshiah 89 p. 300

Is there any source that whistling in a room summons demons?

No. It’s a superstition without any source.[1] What is true is that it is recorded in Sefarim[2] that whistling has been traditionally included in some witchcraft ceremonies, however not that all whistling is considered witchcraft or that all whistling can summon spirits and demons. To put the matter to rest, it is an explicit ruling in the Rishonim and Poskim[3] that whistling is permitted, and that it is permitted to whistle even on Shabbos.

[1] See Shabbos Beshabato p. 327

[2] Eiyn Zocher of Chida Mareches Alef 34; Koach Shur 31

[3] Admur 338:2; Rama 238:1; Darkei Moshe 338:4; M”A 338:2; Shiltei Hagiborim Eiruvin 35b in name of Riaz; P”M 338 A”A 2; Machazik Bracha 338:1 that so is the custom and ruling of Achronim; Aruch Hashulchan 338:6-7; M”B 338:3; Orchos Chaim 338:4; Kaf Hachaim 338:7; Piskeiy Teshuvos 338:4; Rav Yaakov Yosef and his father Rav Ovadia Yosef rule it is permitted ; See Hiskashrus 674; Sefer Hasichos 5752 p. 186;

List of fruits that do not contain any Arla worry:[1]

The following fruits are usually never Arla as they do not grow fruit until after 4-5 years. However there are exceptions to this rule based on advancement in agricultural farming and technology, and hence this should only be viewed as a general guide.

  1. Avocado
  2. Olives
  3. Dates
  4. Figs
  5. Persimon [apharsimon]
  6. Grapefruit
  7. Guava
  8. Cherry
  9. Carob
  10. Mango
  11. Apricot
  12. Lemon
  13. Pecans
  14. Plumb
  15. Apples [The Ana green apples are 2.8% during summer]
  16. Oranges
  17. Tangerine
  18. Pineapple
  19. Sabra

 

List of fruits that have high arla percentage and hence may only be bought with proper Hashgacha:

  1. Kiwi
  2. Papaya [80% Arla]
  3. Blueberry

[1] See Hakashrus 16:18

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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