Q&A: “Jewish Mysticism?”
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
“Jewish Mysticism?”
Question
Hello Rabbi, I wanted to know,
the names:
Sandalphon
Metatron
Enoch
Samael
Lilith
Dikarnusa
and the like…
1) Is it permitted to say them out loud?
2) How do you view the stories / legends about them (Enoch was a human being and became an angel. Metatron is the Prince of the Presence. Lilith is the queen of the demons. Samael is the Angel of Death, etc.)? Something that happened / happens in reality? Or just folk tales (let’s call it Jewish mythology)?
Answer
In the kabbalistic tradition, it is accepted that some of them are not spoken aloud. Anyone who is concerned about that should not say them. The legends about them are legends like any other legend. They presumably come to convey some kind of message.