A dead soul that possesses a living person in Jewish folklore is called a dybbuk.
What a dybbuk is
- A dybbuk is traditionally understood as the dislocated or restless soul of a deceased person that purportedly inhabits a living person until it achieves its unfinished business or is exorcised.
- The concept has roots in kabbalistic and folk beliefs and became widely popular through literature and film, notably through S. An-sky’s The Dybbuk and later cinema.
Etymology and origins
- The term comes from a Hebrew root meaning to adhere or cling, reflecting the belief that the spirit clings to a host.
- Early references appear in 16th-century writings, with popular modern perceptions shaped in the 20th century.
Cultural context
- Dybbuks are often described as male spirits, though possession can be depicted as affecting various genders in different stories.
- In some traditional accounts, the dybbuk inhabits the body while the host remains conscious, though exorcism rites or other interventions are commonly described in the lore.
If you’d like, I can summarize how the concept appears in contemporary sources or compare it to other possession traditions.
