Jewish Magic and Folklore: Messages from beyond the Mountains of Darkness

FOLKMYTH 140 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

This course surveys the centuries-long history of Jewish magic and folklore, with particular attention to two central paradoxes of the field:

(1) The diverse magical and folkloric traditions of the Jewish diaspora have been substantially influenced by the practices and lore of neighboring non-Jewish groups. Nevertheless, Jewish magic and folklore exhibit remarkable continuities over time, with various ideas and motifs spanning Jewish history from its ancient beginnings to the present.

(2) Jewish magical and folkloric traditions sometimes appear to stand at odds with Jewish monotheism, yet they draw so heavily on other aspects of Jewish religiosity (e.g., prayer, Torah study, mysticism, etc.) that it can be difficult to define magic and folklore in Jewish contexts.

Specific topics to be covered in this course include demonic possession narratives from ancient Israel; nautical tall tales told by the rabbis of Sasanian Iraq; accounts of werewolves, witches, and vampires in Jewish writings from medieval Germany; Ladino ballads; Yiddish fairytales; and many others. This course is designed both for newcomers to the study of Judaism and for students with a background in Jewish studies who are interested in learning more about magic and folklore. 

No prior familiarity with Jewish studies or knowledge of Jewish languages is required. This course welcomes first-year students!

Course Notes

There is an official enrollment cap for this course, but if the course has filled and you would like to enroll, please be encouraged to contact the instructor at danielfrim@g.harvard.edu