Do Jews see ghosts/get haunted?

[Planogirl]

Interesting that so many who follow the Bible which speaks often of spirits don't seem to believe in them. I respect that but find it puzzling.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Additionally, it was traditional to defeat the Angel of Death to rename a very sick person (for the duration of the illness) "Chaim" if male or "Chaya" if female - those names mean "life" in Hebrew.

That is very interesting. I love finding out new traditions so if one were Jewish there would never be a junior named child correct?

 

[snykymom]

Could you clarify this for me? I do not understand do you mean that the children are named after someone deceased so the Angel of Death will know that person is already dead and not take another by the wrong name? My GF is Jewish and she told me that the tradition was to name the child with the first letter of the deceased person's name. For example if the deceased person was Allen then the baby would be named Amy or Arron using only the first letter. I asked her why this was the custom but she did not know since she really is not devoute in her religion.

Oh, I forgot to answer your other question about the first letter. That's generally how the child is named in English, and usually when the name that's being used is a foreign one,although they often are given the same name anyway. But for traditional purposes, when Jews talk about naming a child, they're talking about the name in Hebrew.

For example, my brother was named for an uncle who died in Germany during the Holocaust. His name was Moishe (Yiddish for Moses). No way was my mother naming an American kid "Moishe." His name became Mark in English, but his name in Hebrew is "Moshe", Hebrew for Moses.

It is by your Hebrew name, given at a boy's bris or a girl's naming in the synagogue, that God knows you (and that the Angel of Death knows you).

That is very interesting. I love finding out new traditions so if one were Jewish there would never be a junior named child correct?

If one were a Jew of Eastern European descent, that's true; there are rarely "juniors." One names a child after a deceased loved one both for the mystical reason mentioned above, and also as a way to honor and remember the loved one. So it's not just about who you don't name the child for; it's also about who you do name the child for.

Sephardic Jews, those descended from the Spanish/African Jews, have different traditions, and do in fact name children after living relatives.

 

[Galahad]

I think you should ask grandmother Tzeitel and Fruma Sarah whether Jews can believe in ghosts.

 

[Narnian_Princess]

Interesting that so many who follow the Bible which speaks often of spirits don't seem to believe in them. I respect that but find it puzzling.

I am a Bible-believing Christian, and I believe in spirits, but not in ghosts. Spirits are supernatural beings, while ghosts are the lost souls of dead humans. I believe that when humans die, their souls go one of two places, and there is no way they can linger on earth.

Now, what people see and CALL ghosts, I believe those are spirits. Specifically, those who are familiar with the people in the area or the family, taking on the likenesses of those who passed on.

For some inexplicable reason, I also believe in the 'psychic/temporal imprint' theory of ghosts, that some events can be so dramatic and traumatic that they can leave impressions on the surroundings, getting replayed over and over in a ghostly fashion, either visibly or emotionally. I probably believe this because I lived for six years in an evil house. Not haunted, as there were no specific presences, no poltergeist-type activity, and no ghostly visions. The only evidence was a general aura of oppression and malice, and the fact that that house nearly tore our family apart. I think an evil person left an impression on the house before we came, because we were a loving family before we moved there, and within a month after we moved away we were a loving family again, but while we were there, depression and abuse ran rampant.

So no, I don't believe in ghosts, but spirits are a different matter.

 

[snykymom]

I think you should ask grandmother Tzeitel and Fruma Sarah whether Jews can believe in ghosts.

Now, there's the answer in a nutshell!! Thank you! (of course, Jews don't kneel and bow, either, but that's a whole different story . . . )

 

[IDoDis]

Interesting that so many who follow the Bible which speaks often of spirits don't seem to believe in them. I respect that but find it puzzling.

I see it the opposite way. Christians should not believe in ghosts. If ghosts exist for Christians, then clearly heaven does not. How can one have faith that if they are a Christian they will go to heaven when they die, yet believe their dead relatives are ghosts sitting on the edge of their bed at night. Mama can't be in heaven happy and free if she's wandering around the house as a ghost. The two don't go together.

Are there demons? Christians should say yes because demons are not christian and don't go to heaven.

 

[AllanAzouz]

I am an observant Jew, and have seen ghosts when I was young. I have never heard of Jews being haunted. Maybe it's the spiritual quality of the mezzuzot on our doorways?

I've always been interested in the question of ghosts. That's why I became a horror writer (my first horror novel was recently published). The question of whether they are projections of psyches or their own entities is interesting. The only way to answer the question is for them to offer some objective information that the living person has no way of possessing.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Oh, I forgot to answer your other question about the first letter. That's generally how the child is named in English, and usually when the name that's being used is a foreign one,although they often are given the same name anyway. But for traditional purposes, when Jews talk about naming a child, they're talking about the name in Hebrew.

For example, my brother was named for an uncle who died in Germany during the Holocaust. His name was Moishe (Yiddish for Moses). No way was my mother naming an American kid "Moishe." His name became Mark in English, but his name in Hebrew is "Moshe", Hebrew for Moses.

It is by your Hebrew name, given at a boy's bris or a girl's naming in the synagogue, that God knows you (and that the Angel of Death knows you).


If one were a Jew of Eastern European descent, that's true; there are rarely "juniors." One names a child after a deceased loved one both for the mystical reason mentioned above, and also as a way to honor and remember the loved one. So it's not just about who you don't name the child for; it's also about who you do name the child for.

Sephardic Jews, those descended from the Spanish/African Jews, have different traditions, and do in fact name children after living relatives.

Cool thread. I'm not Jewish, but my husband and I follow Judaism so we named our son Moshe Israel. Do I believe in ghosts? To some extent, yes. Have I seen one...no. And I hope I NEVER do.

I am an observant Jew, and have seen ghosts when I was young. I have never heard of Jews being haunted. Maybe it's the spiritual quality of the mezzuzot on our doorways?

I've always been interested in the question of ghosts. That's why I became a horror writer (my first horror novel was recently published). The question of whether they are projections of psyches or their own entities is interesting. The only way to answer the question is for them to offer some objective information that the living person has no way of possessing.

I do believe that is the truth, about the mezuzah. Hubby and I have one on our front and back doors.

I would LOVE to read your novel. Is it real scary? Me and horror don't generally get along, but I can do some. Freddy Krueger for example to this day makes me laugh now. Jason and Mike Meyers still scare the poo out of me! Even though it wasn't horror, I couldn't get through Van Helsing. Is that the correct name?

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Now, there's the answer in a nutshell!! Thank you! (of course, Jews don't kneel and bow, either, but that's a whole different story . . . )

Actually, they DO bow...certain prayers require it. But as you said, that's a whole different story.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I believe in ghosts, but have never seen one (thank goodness - I would FREAK). My mom doesn't believe in ghosts (but she is Catholic) and she has seen her deceased mom sitting on the edge of her bed - YIKES!!!!

Question - if you see a deceased person in a dream, is that considered a ghost?

I believe in ghosts but have never seen one either (and I would freak as well.) I have felt the presence of a departed relative in a place where he often was, but I guess it could have just been my imagination.
As far as the second paragraph, I don't think so.

 

[metalis4ever]

As an agnostic Jew, this actually makes perfect sense to me. People tend to "see" what they believe in.

The mind works in marvelous ways and can play wonderful and mysterious tricks on us if we allow it or even want it to. Unfortunately with something like ghosts which hasn't been Scientifically proven the individual truth lies in the eye of the beholder much like with Religion which is why it would make sense that any person with any Religious Faith be it Christian or Jew could believe in ghosts.

 

[Planogirl]

There's no question that odd things happen. Nothing anyone will post will convince me otherwise. What causes those odd things to happen is open to interpretation of course and one's own belief system influences that. I respect all beliefs but do resent those who scoff at people. That shows a complete lack of respect IMO.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Cool thread. I'm not Jewish, but my husband and I follow Judaism so we named our son Moshe Israel. Do I believe in ghosts? To some extent, yes. Have I seen one...no. And I hope I NEVER do.



I do believe that is the truth, about the mezuzah. Hubby and I have one on our front and back doors.

I would LOVE to read your novel. Is it real scary? Me and horror don't generally get along, but I can do some. Freddy Krueger for example to this day makes me laugh now. Jason and Mike Meyers still scare the poo out of me! Even though it wasn't horror, I couldn't get through Van Helsing. Is that the correct name?

Can Christians put one on their door also or would it be sacreligious or disrespectful to the Jewish Religion?

 

[mpls_mm]

I am a practicing Jew and didn't believe in ghosts....until I moved into a haunted house, part of an old farmstead. I am moving this week after 5 months, too too long to have stayed here in my opinion. Every person that has lived in the main farmhouse next to me has left quickly. The big problems are there, my house was built over an old outbuilding so while things happen here, it is nothing like the main house. The new owner is from out of town like me and hadn't heard the local stories and didn't believe ghosts existed until recently, now she wants to get out. I think the difference between Jews and other religions is that we wouldn't call a priest out or have any religious help. The farmhouse owner might have a priest out. I am just happy to be leaving except now that I am packing it is stirring everything up and even people in the main farmhouse are having worse issues. I don't see any deeper issues behind it, I don't believe in hell or satan, there is no agenda, just a creepy freaking piece of land.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Well, the first recounting in literature of an actual ghost story came from Aristotle, I think. And he was neither Jewish nor Christian. Almost all cultures have some form of ghost story.

I once lived in a 200+ year old house and had things happen to me and saw things that I have no explanation for (unless the laws of the rational universe were suspended for those few moments) without resorting to the notion that there were some sort of unseen forces at work in my home. And I do NOT believe in ghosts. But yet, those things happened.

So, honestly, I don't think it's a matter of your belief system. I think in some cases, it's the ability to ignore what you don't believe in. I have a hard time ignoring things (comes in handy in my field) that's all.

ETA: I just went and looked it up. Whoops! It was Pliny.

 

[KAMKIM]

I've always wondered why every single time someone spots Jesus or the Virgin Mary in a tree, grease stain, wall of a house, piece of toast, etc., it is ALWAYS a Catholic. I am not kidding. Always. It's never a Baptist, Methodist, and certainly never a Jew. Not long ago, someone in Texas (I think) came across a Cheeto that resembled Jesus....yes, Cheesus .....and they were going to auction it off on eBay. I watched the interview and told my sister they had Methodist, Presbyterian or maybe Episcopalian written all over them. Yes, they were amused by Cheesus anad happy to have found "him", but they did not revere it. They wanted to strike while the iron was hot and sell Cheesus to someone who would fully "appreciate" his finer qualities. I could relate to them. If I was every so fortunate as to come across a Cheesus, I'd sell it in a heartbeat. Otherwise, I'd probably forget about his unique qualities and just eat him in one crunch anyway.

I admit.....I inspected the contents of my next bag of Cheetos more carefully, but to no avail.

Same reason aliens only land in Texas

 

[snykymom]

Can Christians put one on their door also or would it be sacreligious or disrespectful to the Jewish Religion?

IMO, it would be disrespectful. A mezuzah is not a talisman or a method to ward off spirits (although that may be a side effect! ), like wearing garlic could be. It contains three verses from the Torah, written in Hebrew calligraphy by hand (to be a kosher one) on parchment. It includes the most important prayer in Judaism: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One!" Its purpose is to fulfill the commandment, "And you shall write [the words that I command you] on your gates and on the doorposts of your house." Since that is not a commandment followed by Christians, posting a mezuzah on your door would be disrespectful.

If you want such a talisman, a cross would likely be equally effective for a Christian.

 

[gometros]

Funny since the first Biblical ghost story that pops into my head is out of the old testament (Jewish history!) when King Saul calls up the ghost of Samuel, former high priest of the Jews who had been dead for a while...

Anyone ever see Fiddler On The Roof? The nightmare scene? Who says Jews don't believe in ghosts? We may not believe in the Holy Spirit, but like a previous poser noted, you don't tend to see what you don't believe in.

 

[gometros]

Sephardic Jews, those descended from the Spanish/African Jews, have different traditions, and do in fact name children after living relatives.

Clarification. Sephardic Jews will not name a child after the father, but it is traditional to name the first born male child after the paternal grandfather. My grandfather was Samuel (Shmuel), hence I was named for him. My son is named Yitchak after my father, who was alive at the time he was born. It makes genealogy research a pain sometimes, since there is so much repetition of similar names.