Do Jews believe in ghosts?

Do Jews believe in ghosts? What is the torah/gemorah belief when it comes to ghosts?

 

No they don't.

 

erm... everyone has his own opinion about believing in ghosts or not... there are also Jews that don't believe in god...

 

Good point.

 

Um... Judaism believes in Ghosts, the religion speaks directly about them. They believe that it is a sin to consult the spirits.

The Hebrew word for ghost is ovoth, but a more profound word for ghost is dybbuk. A dybbuk is a detached spirit (spoken of in the Old Testament) that can attach itself to the living, and in some cases possess the body of a living person.

Many are not aware that ghost attachment and possession is in the Old Testament. Two occurrences are found in I Samuel 18:10, where King Saul is vexed by a bad spirit; and I Kings 22:20-23 where the prophets are possessed by the lying spirit of a man to trick the King into war.

 

In Samuel, the "spirit" was an messenger from G-D.

http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/15847/showrashi/true

10. And it was on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God rested upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house, and David was playing with his hand like everyday, and the spear was in Saul's hand.


Kings 22:20-23 it's a messenger from G-D too.

http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/15906/showrashi/true

20. And the Lord said, 'Who will entice Ahab so that he will go up and fall in Ramoth-Gilead?' One said in this manner and another one said in that manner. ×›.
21. And a certain spirit came forth and stood before the Lord and said, 'I will entice him,' and the Lord said to him 'How?' כא.
Rashi - And a certain spirit came forth: The spirit of Naboth. :

22. And he said, 'I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And He said, 'You will entice and you will prevail. Go forth and do so.' כב.
23. And now, behold the Lord has placed a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, whereas the Lord spoke evil concerning you."

G-D sends messengers aka angels to do specific tasks.

 

So your Jewish? Can u explain to me the Talmud and if it has any relevance in how people live their lives? Or do you just follow the Old testament? (sincere question)