Back to Question of the Week Back to Archives Q: What is Judaism's take on Satan/the devil? Tracie
		A: Satan did originate in the Jewish Bible, but his Jewish career hasn't been as exciting as his run in Christianity. In the Hebrew Scriptures, "satan" isn't even always a proper name, but simply a noun denoting an adversary (whether human or angelic). At worst, the Satan is an angel who is the trouble-making lawyer for the prosecution in the heavenly court. In the Jewish Biblical and rabbinic imagination, he's a bit like Kenneth Starr: an official employee who will go to great lengths to try to get dirt on people. Especially important people like Job or Abraham. So he is dangerous, because you have to not fall for his tricks. But Judaism is just too monotheistic to have a full fledged anti-God/anti-Christ like Satan becomes in the Christian world. There are, however, as anyone who has read the Talmud or Isaac Bashevis Singer knows, demons. But that's a different story. written by Rabbi Jeremy Schwartz
		last update: August 1999 Got a question for Reb on the Web? Visit our Archived Questions SHOOT*! ("SHOOT" is the Hebrew acronym for SHe'elot OOTeshuvot (Questions and Answers), the centuries-old dialogue between Jews and their rabbis.)

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