Rav Kaminetsky (Emes L’Yaakov Shemos 7:22) And the Egyptian magicians did the same with their spellsConcerning the question
why are there are no true magicians today or demons or spirits (dybuk) that our
ancestors told us about? Similarly there are many types of knowledge that we
don’t have or know about. The answer seems to me that this is the result of a case of measure
for measure that G-d arranged to ensure
that we have free-will and not err. That is why as explained by the
Ramban (Shemos 14:21) G-d had a strong wind blowing during the
Splitting of the Sea so the Egyptians could err and say it was happening
because of the wind and therefore they could also cross the sea as the Jews had. Consequently when there were
prophets who performed miracles to
persuade them to do G-d’s will, if they didn’t also have real magicians who
could do these miracles then they would have had no free-will like what
happened to Pharaoh. Even though with the plague of lice the magicians
acknowledged that it was the finger of G-d. Pharaoh said in his heart that was
because the magicians were lying in
order to conceal that Moshe was a greater magician than they. Therefore as long as there was prophecy there needed to be real magic. Afterwards
since they still had bas Kol there were also
invisible spiritual forces like demons. As long as there were people who
could do amazing signs and wonders there
were demons which were manifestations of hidden dark spiritual powers.
However later when no one was able to do miracles and
everything was purely material and only intellect and desire were involved that is why our Sages have
stated that no one as great as Moshe will ever occur again. amongst the Jews though it is possible amongst the Babylonians, it is possible to have someone like Bilaam. In order to
allow free-will, That is why in the time of Moshe it was necessary to have Bilaam. This is a general rule This explains why Yosef
responded to Pharoh when he said “I heard
that you interpret dreams.” By saying it is not his knowledge but rather
G-d’s concern for Pharoh’s welfare Similarly with Daniel, Nevuchadnezer said to
Daniel “can you tell me what my dream
means?” Daniel answered that the meaning is not obtained with esoteric
knowledge since only G-d can reveal it, Daniel was thus denigrating this esoteric
knowledge which had created a barricade between man and G-d’s providence. This
is expressed by the statement that these esoteric arts were considered the
epitome of knowledge and understanding in the eyes of non-Jews,
It would seem that this idea can also be used to justify the view of the Rambam that demons don’t exist and that they are not real. There are many who have criticized him and pointed out that demons are mentioned many times in the gemora so how does the Rambam explain these gemoras?...
However according to what I have written it is possible that
the Rambam believed that in the time of
the gemora since there were Amoraim who had the power to resurrect the dead and
perform other miracles therefore of necessity it was needed to have the dark
spiritual powers such as demons – in order to have a balance for
free-will. So therefore only in modern
times when true spiritual powers are hidden will will there be a corresponding
concealment of the dark forces such as
demons
And I remember that when I was in Kelm, that Rav Ekchonon Wasserman wrote in the name of the
Chofetz Chaim “that the famous event of a dybuk that occurred in his lifetime
was likely the last appearance of this type. That was because that to the
degree the power of Torah and true spirituality is reduced the power of the dark
forces of impurity are likewise reduced.”
However it is possible that even today that in the places
where there are still Jews with pure
faith and act properly that they also have an extra measure of the dark
spiritual forces – in order to maintain a proper balance. Think about this
deeply!
