HiNews
Stories about Vampires are always fascinating humans for centuries, and it’s not likely to fade away even in the era of space exploration. The undead, nocturnal being – are they real? What does Jewish scripture say about these bloodthirsty beings? Are there any references to vampires in the Bible, the Talmud, or the writings of the rabbis?
The answer is not straightforward, as there is no single word for vampire in Hebrew. However, there are some terms and stories that may suggest the existence of vampire-like creatures in Jewish tradition. Here are some examples:
Alukah
This is a feminine word that means “horse-leech”, a type of leech with many teeth that feeds on the throats of animals. According to some biblical scholars, alukah can also mean “blood-lusting monster” or vampire. Alukah is mentioned in Proverbs 30:15, where it is paired with another word, shnei banot, which means “two daughters”. Some interpreters suggest that these two daughters are allegories for two types of vampires: one that sucks blood and one that consumes flesh.
Estrie
This is a term derived from the French word strix, which means “night owl”. Estries are female vampires of Jewish folklore that were believed to prey on Hebrew citizens. They could shape-shift into animals or humans, and could be killed by a metal nail in their navel. They could also be healed by eating bread and salt given by their victims. Estries are mentioned in the Talmud (Tractate Sanhedrin 65b) and in the writings of Rabbi Isaac ben Jacob ha-Kohen (13th century), who described them as demonic women who seduce men and drink their blood.
The story of the unburied woman: This is a story quoted by Radbaz, a 16th-century rabbi, in his commentary on Jewish burial laws. The story tells of a dead woman who was possessed by a vampire-like demon, causing hundreds of deaths. The reason for her transformation was that her corpse had remained unburied for three days, violating the Jewish statutes that require standing vigil over a dead body and burying it as soon as possible. The story illustrates the importance of adhering to Jewish burial laws, and stresses society’s collective responsibility in caring for all people.
It doesn’t matter if you believe it or not, but there is one thing we can all agree – to treasure our very life and society, that’s more important than to stir the ancient dirts.
