Are There Such Things as Demons?

With the grace of Hashem.

Hello and blessings,

Similar to angels, demons can manifest in different forms depending on their mission and location in the world, meaning they do not have a fixed appearance.

The sages stated:

"Six things were said about demons, three like the ministering angels, and three like humans.

Three like ministering angels: They have wings like ministering angels, and they fly from one end of the world to the other like ministering angels, and they hear from behind the veil what is destined to be, like ministering angels.

Three like humans: They eat and drink like humans, they reproduce like humans, they die like humans" (Chagigah 16).

The Ramchal writes about them (in Maamar HaIkaraim):

"Another type of created beings exists, which is an intermediate type between the physical and the spiritual. That is to say, it has some physical boundaries and matters while being devoid of others, and this type is called demons. They possess some corporeality, but not like ours, and they have some elements of spirituality, though not like true spiritual beings. There are also levels and types among them, and according to their levels, so are their laws and boundaries."

The Rebbe of Kotzk explained that in the past, demons were present in our world, but their existence has been concealed since then, hence they are not found in our times:

"The Rambam also explained that demons are not present, despite their frequent mention in the Talmud. He said that they once existed, and after the Rambam ruled that they are not present, it has also been decreed so in heaven, and therefore they are not found now."

(Rebbe of Kotzk, Emes Ve-Emunah, Jerusalem 5700, Siman 453, page 107).

With blessings,

Daniel Bals