Israeli rabbi conducts exorcism via Skype

Rabbi David Batzri: A tech-savvy exorcist

An Israeli rabbi and kabbalah scholar recently attempted the world’s first exorcism via Skype.

HaRav David Batzri, one of Israel’s best known kabbalists, tried to exorcise a “dybbuk” — a spirit that allegedly posesses the body — from a Brazilian Jew. Some streams of ultra-Orthodoxy, such as Batzri’s, believe in ghosts, spirit possession and reincarnation.

Jewish-American publication Matzav reported on the online exorcism:

The story began when a man from Brazil claimed that a dybbuk had entered him. Apparently, some individuals approached Rav Chaim Kanievsky on the man’s behalf, asking his advice. Rav Chaim posed a number of questions, and, reportedly, said that it appears to be a real dybbuk. Rav Chaim added, according to reports, that he is not an expert in these matters and that they should consult with Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman. Rav Shteinman allegedly recommended that the individuals go to Rav Dovid Batzri, the renowned mekubal who has expertise in this area. The problem was the fact that the fellow was located in Brazil. Rav Batzri’s assistants arranged for him to be able to be in video contact with the Brazilian man via Skype, an internet video tool, and in that way Rav Batzri could try to exorcise the dybbuk from the man.

The effort, unfortunately, was not successful and the man is reportedly going to be in Israel shortly for Rav Batzri to attempt, in person, to banish the dybbuk.

Prior to the Skype effort, Rav Chaim Kanievsky was reported as saying that trying to remove the dybbuk via video conference would not work, as the person must be present physically for it to be effective.

According to reports, the tumult began when voices began to emerge from the Brazilian man, even though his lips were not moving. The voice was saying, among other things, “The end is close,” and, “I sense many sins,” in a language other than the man’s native tongue, which is the only language he knows. According to reports, additional statements were also made, with the man’s lips staying steady but his stomach moving instead as the words were said. His wife later said that he had been talking in his sleep as well, in a language other than his native tongue.

Video footage of the Skype exorcism (complete with Rabbi Batzri praying over a computer) can be found here.

A longer story (in Hebrew) was published on the Skype exorcism in the Israeli tabloid Maariv. A English version from Google Translate is available here. But as Rabbi Kanievsky predicted, the exorcism via Skype didn’t work.

Instead, the reportedly spirit-posessed Brazillian was flown to Israel for a “real,” in-person exorcism. Here is full video footage of Batzri conducting the exorcism in Israel:

As can be seen from the video footage, the exorcism was an extremely well-attended event. The exorcism was held at the HaShalom Yeshiva in Jerusalem’s Makor Baruch neighborhood — not too far away from the massive Mahahne Yehuda market. Ultra-Orthodox American publication Yeshiva World News summed up the ceremony:

HaGaon HaRav Mekubal David Batzri Shlita is expected to attempt to remove the dibuk from a Brazilian avreich as was reported in December 2009 by YWN-Israel.

After Rav Batzri Shlita attempted to assist the victim without success via Skype, Rav Kanievsky and others have referred the infected man to Rav Batzri, indicating he is the only hope, the only one who knows how to deal with such a situation. Rav Kanievsky Shlita wished the man a complete recovery, but indicated he is not capable of addressing his problem, pointing him in the direction of Rav Batzri.

The avreich from Brazil arrived in Eretz Yisrael a number of days ago, hoping the Mekubal will indeed be the shaliach who will return his life to what is was previously, before being invaded by this foreign entity.

This morning, the avreich visited with Gedolei Yisrael Shlita, including Maran Rav Elyashiv Shlita, Rav Leib Rabinowitz Shlita, the Ma’adnei HaShulchan, HaGaon HaTzaddik Rav Zundel Kroizer Shlita, HaGaon HaRav Kanievsky Shlita and HaGaon HaRav Shteinman Shlita, visits that he made in compliance with a request from Rav Batzri, ahead of the Wednesday night attempt to remove the dibuk from him.

Rabbi Batzri is known for his unorthodox beliefs, including claiming that Arabs are “donkeys”, picketing a mixed Jewish-Arab elementary school, blaming homosexuals for bird flu and urging that Israel’s homosexuals be put to death. Nonetheless, he is one of Israel’s best known kabbalists.

At press time, it is not known whether the exorcism was successful.