The following annotated
bibliography on Lillith and lillins was written by Catherine Anne
Gunderson for Kip Wheeler's English 199 Class ("Writings
About Medieval Monsters"), on July 19, 2001.
Annotated Bibliography on Lillith
and Lillins
Bialick, Hayim Nahman, and Yehoshua Hana Ravnitzky, eds.
The Book of Legends: Legends from The Talmud and Midrash. Trans.
William G. Braude. NY: Schocken Books, 1992.
The book contains a small warning against Lilith, the "night
demon," within the chapter that numerically lists the "Destructive
forces that afflict Mankind." 764, note 43.
Charlesworth, James H., ed. The Old Testament Pseudephigrapha.
Vol. III. NY: Doubleday and Co., Inc., 1985. l: 967 note 5 and, 974
note 13a.
The passage contains Lilith, on incantation bowls.
Dame, Enid, Lilly Rivlin and Henny Wenkart, ed. Which
Lilith? New Jersey: Bookmart Press, 1998.
An anthology of Jewish womenÕs writings inspired by the Lilith myth.
The book is broken into seven parts: "Who is Lilith," "Lilith
and Men," "Lilith as Transgressive Woman," "Lilith
and Other Women," "Lilith and the Family," "Lilith
as Archetype, Female Prinsiple," and "Lilith in Exile."
The contributions, which vary from scholarly works to poetic expressions,
all are concerned with modern Jewish womenÕs re-definition of the
Lilith myth and the Midrash as a vehicle for understanding their position
within the Jewish cultural context. The introduction by Naomi Wolf
is excellent and reaches a broad feminist (not necessarily Jewish)
audience. The poem, "woman before Idea of woman" by Gayle
Brandeis and "The Last Lilith Poem" by Lynne Savitt, written
as a suicide note, are both powerful and artfully written.
Gaster, Moses, ed. Studies and Texts in Folklore, Magic,
Medieval Romance, Hebrew Apocrypha and Samaritan Archaeology. NY:
Ktav Publishing House, Inc.: 1971, Vol. II. 1005-138.
A collection of Romanian charms, made by Marian, is listed in the
chapter "Two Thousand Years of a Charm Against the Child-Stealing
Witch." The various charms are given and explained extensively,
as are the amulets to be made. A point of interest is the listing
of LilithÕs seventeen other possible names.
Gregg, Joan Young. Devils, Women, and Jews. NY: SUNY
Press, 1997.
A brief mention of Lilith is made in this book, but the footnote
to the selection provides some noteworthy, if brief, insights into
the dominant myth.
Humm, Alan. Lilith. Feb. 17, 2001. University of Pennsylvania.
July 15, 2001. <http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~humm/Topics/Lilith>.
The most comprehensive website for all Lilith information. Includes
links to late medieval traditions, ancient sources, and articles concerning
her role in Jewish mysticism, folklore, traditional literature, modern
magic and modern literature. Additionally there are many interesting
pictures and easy links to some of the other, usually less scholarly
and more personal, websites such as: "Lilith Magazine,"
a magazine for Jewish feminists: "Lilith
Shrine," Renee RosenÕs entertaining page with some great pictures:
<www.lilitu.com/lilith>.
"LilithÕs World," Barbara FruschiÕs Italian fantasy site.
Hussain, Shauhrukh. "Temptresses." The Virago Book
of Evil Women. London: Virago Press, 2000. 1-28.
The myth of Lilith is re-told by the author in a highly subjective,
modern reading of the medieval characterization of the Lilith figure.
The question is posed, what happened culturally to transform this
woman into a demon and temptress? The answers are fresh.
Liebes, Yehuda. Studies in Jewish Myth and Jewish Messianism.
Trans. Batya Stein. NY: SUNY Press, 1993. 138-139.
One explanation for the ten varieties of song that correspond to
the ten psalms in the Jewish faith is posed in this book as a reaction
to their relation to the "demonic spirit of Lilith"(139).
LilithÕs sexuality and sadness are linked to a need for songs of joy.
The happy and loud songs are suggested to defeat heretic thoughts
and sexual temptation in melancholic males.
Slothi, Judah J., trans. Midrash Rabbah. Trans. Judah
J. Slothi, M.A. Numbers, Vol. II. NY: The Sonicino Press, 1983. 694-695.
In this selection, Moses explains the works of God and compares
them to those of Lilith, who also turns against her own children.
McGills, Roderick. The Hebrew Goddess. Ed. Willian Raeper.
3rd ed. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1990. 31-55.
The article, "Femininity and Freedom," compares George
MacDonaldÕs "two great romances," Phantastes and Lilith
(31); MacDonaldÕs specific re-interpretation and criticism of the
Lilith myth in his novel is explored.
Patai, Rahpael. The Hebrew Goddess. 3rd ed. Detroit:
Wayne State University Press, 1990. 221-254.
A thorough source closely linked to the original texts concerning
Lilith. The author takes a scholarly, objective look at the background
for the Lilith myth, her various forms and actions, then critiques
her extensive relations with other mythical and biblical figures.
Schwartz, Howard. LilithÕs Cave. San Francisco: Isthmus
Press, 1975.
The small and creative book is a philosophical exploration of Jewish
beliefs with Lilith as the central figure.
Spector, Sheila A. Jewish Mysticism. NY: Garland Publishing,
Inc., 1984. 393.
This is an annotated bibliography on the Kabbabah in English containing
three sources for further study.
Dan, Joseph. "Samuel, Lilith and the Concept of Evil in Early
Kabbalah." AJS Review, 5, 1980. 17-40.
Montgomery, James A. "The Lilith Legend." The Museum
Journal, 4, 1913. 62-65.
Scholem, Gershom G. Jewish Gnosticisn, Merkabah Mysticism, and
Tulmudic Tradition. NY: Jewish Theological Seminary of America,
1965.
Yassif, Eli. Jewish Folklore. NY: Garland Publishing, Inc.,
1986. 319.
Another annotated bibliography with a listing of thirteen books ranging
from analyses of the legend to books containing cures and amulets
used as protection from Lilith in Galicia.
