Contrary to popular opinion, Jews across history believed in demons. In the mystical teachings of Kabbalah, the line between divine and demonic blurs. Demons aren’t just lurking in the shadows—they're active forces shaping reality. This session explores how Kabbalists and folk traditions understood and interacted with these powers, revealing a spiritually charged cosmos where good and evil intertwine. Texts will be provided in English and the original; no prior background with text or demons required.

Geo Poor is a doctoral student at the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, where he is focusing on Kabbalah. He is the Director of Operations and Finance at the Vilna Shul in Boston. In his spare time, he creates daily(ish) memes about Talmud and Kabbalah on Instagram, bakes babka/challah of wacky and delicious flavors, and plays archery dodgeball.