How do you get rid of a dybbuk? Did you know Judaism has at least three different unicorns? From the giant Leviathan to the tiny Shamir worm, this class will offer a field guide to the Supernatural Jewish bestiary in bite-sized chunks which invite learners to find deep spiritual truths in Jewish fantasy.
Watch a past recording with Hillel International!
Who’s in the Jewish Monster Manual?
Golems – a clay creature given life through magical preparation and incantations.
Dybbuks – corrupted souls who posses people and spaces; anyone know a good exorcist?
Ibburs – the opposite of a dybbuk, an ibbur possesses someone to help do a mitzvah or learn an important lesson.
Leviathan – the greatest of all sea monsters, and G🌊D’s personal playmate!
Behemoth – the greatest of all land animals, perhaps secretly the hippopotamus…
Ziz – the greatest of all birds, he stands in the sea with his head in the clouds and lays eggs.
The Shamir – the smallest of supernatural Jewish critters, the stone-cutting gaze of the Shamir worm was used by King Solomon to build the 1st Temple.
Unicorns – the Re’em was so big it had to swim alongside Noah’s Ark! and the Tachash was so beautiful that its hide was used to make the walls of the mishkan/tabernacle in the desert.
The Giant Frog from the 2nd Plague – A Passover favourite, imagined on Sanhedrin 67b & Bava Batra 73b
Let’s talk about teaching Jewish Monsters!
“Feeding [on] Leviathan” (a Lecture and Puppet Performance featuring the Leviathan, Behemoth, and Ziz)
for Eschaton (November 4, 2023) with the Center for Civic Arts (Article about the event by Emma Riva of Petrichor)
Performance Script and Lyrics by Gunner LaBuff (Link to Script)
Puppets by Gunner LaBuff & Stephanie Dax
Performed by Gunner LaBuff, Stephanie Dax, Olivia Devorah Tucker
“Questions I Have About Leviathan” Lecture Handout by Olivia Devorah Tucker
Talmud Magic with Olivia Devorah 