Tales of Spirits: Dybbuks and Soul Impregnations

The renowned Kabbalist Rabbi Yehuda Petaya, the grandfather of Rabbi David Batzri, wrote in detail about the phenomena of dybbuks he encountered personally, as well as the rites for their exorcism. Rabbi Yehuda Petaya's book, 'The Spirits Speak' describes a notable incident: "Listen now to what the spirits told me as they stood before the great rabbinical court. In the year 5665, a woman named Hana daughter of Akiva was possessed by a soul named Jachla bat Amram, a married woman who sinned with an Ishmaelite and adopted foreign customs. After significant efforts, gathering with the congregation, bringing forth seven Torah scrolls and shofars, and intense prayers, the spirit was expelled, and Hana was healed."

- Another incident on Thursday, 20th of Adar Aleph, 5662, involved a woman named Haviva bat Rahma, the wife of Yaakov Yosef Dayda, possessed by the soul of Aharon Nissim Cohen. This man was barren and illiterate. After some efforts, the spirit left her.

- A third case occurred on Sunday, 14th of Kisleu, involving a woman named Noam daughter of Leah, who was possessed by the spirit Yaakov ben Gezala, a well-known affluent man from Basra. The spirit left after three days but returned on the 17th of Kisleu. Through unique spiritual rituals, it was finally expelled on Friday, 19th of Kisleu.

- A fourth incident on Monday, 22nd of Kisleu, 5663, saw Reuven ben Moshe Mani ben Rahma possessed by a spirit named David Yohanan, a cobbler involved with a woman named Aziza. After working with them until Friday, 16th of Shvat, Reuven experienced a severe bodily reaction, causing the spirit to exit through his toe, just as Rabbi Petaya had commanded it not to cause harm. These interactions and others are extensively documented, but not all are relevant to our topic."...

Out of the many remarkable stories in 'The Spirits Speak,' let us share one extraordinary encounter of Rabbi Petaya:

A Jew named Yechezkel Ezra, known as 'Bechor,' approached Rabbi Petaya, distressed by blasphemous thoughts troubling him during prayer, suggesting he convert to Protestantism. Seeking relief, he had consulted Rabbi Yosef Chaim, the 'Ben Ish Chai.' After being told a strong spiritual force resided within him, Bechor was advised to carry a mezuzah for protection, but this failed. Turning to Rabbi Petaya, he commenced special rituals by his ear to eliminate the foreign entity. Yet the spirit inside mocked the efforts, dismissing Rabbi Petaya's capability to expel it.

Undeterred, Rabbi Petaya continued and insisted the spirit reveal its name and city. Initially defiant, the spirit finally admitted to being David ben Savati, son of Rivka from Izmir, a soul marked by transgressions. In a profound revelation, the spirit was uncovered to be none other than the notorious Sabbatai Zevi. Consulting the 'Ben Ish Chai' and a known mystic, Rabbi Shimon Agassi, Rabbi Petaya extracted arduous details of Sabbatai Zevi's post-mortem journey, torments, and transformations. With an extended ritual, Rabbi Petaya led the spirit to Gehenna, liberating the tormented Bechor.

Rabbi Yehuda Petaya did not always succeed in driving spirits out of the many who sought his help.

In 5677, after returning from Jerusalem, Rabbi Petaya records, a woman plagued by the evil spirit of Yitzhak ben Katon was unable to be freed despite years of attempts, and her eyes were blinded by this malevolent spirit.

Rabbi Yehuda Petaya, who profoundly detailed the nature of soul impregnations and dybbuks in his writings, explained these phenomena along with corresponding rites for rectification. ('The Spirits Speak' by Rabbi Yehuda Petaya)

The Maggid of Kozhnitz Expels a Dybbuk

Rabbi David recounted once in Kozhnitz witnessing the renowned Rabbi Israel of Kozhnitz learning Mishnah daily after prayers. A young man followed these sessions by reciting Kaddish. This routine mystified him until he heard the rabbi cautioning the young man against jesting lest the spirit repossess him.

The rabbi shared that this young man had been gravely afflicted by a spirit, suffering severe torments. Brought to the Kozhnitz Rabbi for relief, the spirit resisted even approaching the rabbi out of fear. Nonetheless, the congregation forced him inside. The rabbi commanded the young man to face him, which the spirit defiantly refused, boasting superior knowledge from its past life.

Threatening with a staff, the rabbi compelled the spirit to make eye contact after much protest. Pressed to identify itself, the spirit hesitated before finally disclosing that it once hurled a stone at Prophet Zechariah in the Temple and was slain, cursed to wander without respite since the Temple's fall.

Urged to depart the young man, the spirit pleaded for sanctuary, but the rabbi insisted, promising to purify and elevate the spirit's soul by dedicating daily Mishnah learning and the young man's Kaddish in its merit; the spirit agreed and exited peacefully.

An Example of Impregnation: The Souls of Nadav and Avihu Enter Pinchas

Rabbi Shimon was studying the portion of Pinchas, interpreting that Nadav and Avihu's souls were absorbed in Pinchas. Rabbi Elazar, his son, questioned how this transpired if Pinchas existed when Nadav and Avihu died. Rabbi Shimon explained this supernatural merging enabled Pinchas to embody aspects of his predecessors, fulfilling a divine mission and justifying his priesthood.