Jewish Vampire Folklore 🐈⬛🩶
While most people think of Dracula when they hear the word vampire, Jewish mythology tells a much older and more mystical story about a creature called the estrie in English or striyas in Hebrew. These beings are fascinating because they occupy a strange space in Jewish mysticism as they were said to be created during the twilight hours just before the very first Shabbat. Because they were made in that liminal space between the mundane week and the holy day, their bodies were never fully finished and left them with the ability to shapeshift and change their form.
An estrie is described as a female spirit who looks like a human woman and lives among people in towns or villages to satisfy her need for blood. But unlike the vampires we see in movies, her power is deeply connected to her hair. Folklore says she can only fly when her hair is completely unbound and loose. If she wants to take flight to hunt or escape, she must let her hair down, but this also becomes her vulnerability. If you can manage to bind her hair or cover it, she is instantly grounded and can no longer use her powers of flight.
These shapeshifters are masters of disguise and often take the form of night creatures to move around unnoticed. It is common in these legends for an estrie to transform into an owl so she can watch from the trees or swoop down in the night. Other stories describe her taking the form of a cat to walk silently through a home or village without drawing any attention to herself.
There is a very specific way to heal or disarm them that speaks to the ancient Jewish value of hospitality. If an estrie is injured by a human, she can only be healed if that same person gives her bread and salt. This creates a powerful spiritual bond between the injurer and the vampire because offering bread and salt is a sign of sustaining life and welcoming a guest. By accepting this food, she is bound to the person and her injury is repaired.
It’s a beautiful and eerie reminder that Jewish folklore is full of mysterious creatures that walk the line between the physical and spiritual worlds. Shabbat Shalom 🧿✨
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