The Sifrei Devarim, a legal midrash on the Book of Deuteronomy, introduces us to this shoel av. The text defines him as a necromancer – someone who attempts to communicate with the dead – who projects speech from… well, from his armpits. Yes, you read that right.
It sounds bizarre, almost comical, doesn't it? But within this strangeness lies a serious point. The text emphasizes that both the necromancer and those who consult them are in transgression.
The passage then presents a rather unsettling comparison. It discusses raising a spirit using one's "male member" (a practice explicitly condemned) versus consulting a skull. What's the difference, the text asks? Apparently, when conjuring a spirit through the former method, the spirit doesn't rise “naturally” and can’t be consulted on the Sabbath. However, consulting a skull allows the spirit to ascend “naturally” and can be consulted on the Sabbath.
It's a chilling distinction, highlighting the varying degrees of impurity and the perceived control one might have over the spirit world. The underlying principle? All these practices are firmly prohibited.
But there's more. The text elaborates on "one who consults the dead," explaining that this individual starves themselves and sleeps in a cemetery, hoping that the spirit of tumah – uncleanliness – will rest upon them. Imagine the desperation, the spiritual hunger, that would drive someone to such extremes.
And here, Rabbi Akiva, one of the greatest sages in Jewish history, offers a powerful reflection. Upon encountering this verse, he exclaims, "Woe unto us! If the spirit of tumah reposes upon one who cleaves to tumah, how much more so should the holy spirit repose upon one who cleaves to the Shechinah!" Shechinah is the Divine Presence.
Rabbi Akiva’s words cut to the heart of the matter. If impurity so readily clings to those who seek it, how much more readily should holiness embrace those who strive for connection with God? What, then, prevents us from experiencing this Divine closeness?
"What brought this (absence of the holy spirit) about?" Rabbi Akiva asks. "Your sins sundered you from your G-d!" This powerful statement, echoing throughout Jewish tradition, reminds us that our actions have consequences. Our choices either draw us closer to the Divine or push us further away.
The story of the shoel av and the necromancer isn't just a strange tale from the past. It's a mirror reflecting our own spiritual journeys. Are we seeking connection in the right places? Are we actively cultivating holiness in our lives, or are we allowing ourselves to be drawn to the shadows? Perhaps by confronting these darker corners of our tradition, we can find a clearer path towards the light.