GUEST POST: šŖ½šš¹ Letās Talk about Angels, and Shedim, and Giants
A Pep Talk From the Jewish Monster Hunter
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I've long enjoyed the online work of Jack Zaientz, better known as Adne Sadeh of the Jewish Monster Hunting blog. His posts are always so well-researched, with links to sources and rituals across the Jewish globe about which I, anyway, often had no idea. And his Kickstarter is now going for his absolutely groovy Jewish Monster and Magic Trading Cards, so this seemed like a perfect time to let you hear him make the case for studying Jewish monsters.
But before he gets going, I wanted you to know that the
Sunday, November 10: 2pm ET, 1pm CT, 12pm PT
Now What?!? Finding Our Place On Deck After The Election
It'll be the Sunday after the US election, and no matter what happens, there will be big implications for everyone.
We'll need some Torah to help us process this moment and to help us situate ourselves--to help us figure out what our (individual and collective) next steps might need to be.
When you join the Life is a Sacred Text House of Study, you'll be able to register.
You're going to need this. You know it.
OK, now let's hand the mic to Jack:
Letās Talk about Angels, and Shedim, and Giants
Jack Zaientz (aka Adne Sadeh)
The modern Jews I know donāt talk about angels very often. Few of the Conservative or Reform Jews with whom Iāve gone to synagogue, or the Orthodox or secular Jews with whom I hang out, or even the rabbis with whom Iāve studied, like to talk about them.
I find that a bit odd, because they show up around 300 times in the Hebrew Bible. In Genesis, we read about Abrahamās visitors and Jacobās wrestling match, and in Exodus about the Angel of Death passing over the homes with blood on the posts and lintel. In Judges, they herald the birth of Sampson and they populate Ezekielās prophetic vision. They act as Godās messengers, heralds, and soldiers, and, according to the midrash, are assigned to bring our souls to Earth and later, after death, to bring us home. During the Hellenistic period, their roles and personalities expanded until names of important angels, such as Michael and Gabriel, were as well-known as those of the patriarchs and matriarchs.