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Last week we reported the strange story of the Yeshivah student from Brazil allegedly possessed by a dybbuk, or a disembodied spirit. An Israeli kabbalah master, Rav Dovid Batzri, attempted to remove the dybbuk via Skype, without much success (surprisingly enough).
Last we heard of the possessed man, he was on his way to Israel to have the dybbuk removed in person.
Well, there is good news and bad news.
The good news is that the Brazilian man -- according to Charedi portal Lada'at -- has spent the last week visiting senior rabbis in order to obtain their blessing before another exorcism is attempted.
The bad news is that Rav Batzri's second attempt, last night in in a mass ceremony in Jerusalem, apparently failed. Kikar Shabbat , which has pictures and a video, also has the following account (translated roughly by matzav.com):
Literally thousands of people gathered in and around the yeshiva to watch.
“Get out immediately! Go out from the small toe on his foot!” Rav Batzri told the dybbuk.
“I turn to you now and tell you: If you leave now, I assure you that we will make a tikkun for you,” said Rav Batzri.
“Go! Go! Go!” yelled the crowd upon the direction of the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Hamekubalim.
But the dybbuk wouldn’t leave the body of the Brazilian avreich, who was shaking like a leaf.
Thousands watched as Rav Batzri attempted for hours to chase away the dybbuk, which refused to leave. For a long time, Rav Batzri begged the dybbuk to reveal its name, but it refused.
Exhaustion was written all over Rav Batzri’s face. With numerous sifrei kabbolah [Kabbalah books] opened before him, shofars were blown and tears formed in his eyes as he exerted much effort to finally get rid of the dybbuk trapped inside the Brazilian’s body.
The voice coming out of the body didn’t say much and would not cooperate with Rav Batzri. One of the few times when the dybbuk’s voice was clear, it said that when he “was alive, he once killed a couple and took their son for avodah zarah [idol worship].”
So the dybbuk is still with us. A third attempt to remove it will apparently be conducted "soon".
But here's a suggestion. They might be better off sending this poor Brazilian boy to a shrink who can deal with what is clearly some kind of mental illness.
The rabbis 'treating' the dybbuk might be referred at the same time.....
UPDATE: Another account of the exorcism attempt here.