ews for these spells."

This charge of black magic recurs all through the history of Europe from
the earliest times. The Jews are accused of poisoning wells, of
practising ritual murder, of using stolen church property for purposes
of desecration, etc. No doubt there enters into all this a great amount
of exaggeration, inspired by popular prejudice and mediaeval
superstition. Yet, whilst condeming the persecution to which the Jews
were subjected on this account, it must be admitted that they laid
themselves open to suspicion by their real addiction to magical arts. If
ignorant superstition is found on the side of the persecutors, still
more amazing superstition is found on the side of the persecuted.
Demonology in Europe was in fact essentially a Jewish science, for
although a belief in evil spirits existed from the earliest times and
has always continued to exist amongst primitive races, and also amongst
the ignorant classes in civilized countries, it was mainly through the
Jews that these dark superstitions were imported to the West, where they
persisted not merely amongst the lower strata of the Jewish population,
but formed an essential part of Jewish tradition. Thus the Talmud says:

If the eye could perceive the demons that people the universe,
existence would be impossible. The demons are more numerous than we
are: they surround us on all sides like trenches dug round
vineyards. Every one of us has a thousand on his left hand and ten
thousand on his right. The discomfort endured by those who attend
rabbinical conferences ... comes from the demons mingling with men
in these circumstances. Besides, the fatigue one feels in one's
knees in walking comes from the demons that one knocks up against
at every step. If the clothing of the Rabbis wears out so quickly,
it is again because the demons rub up against them. Whoever wants
to convince himself of their presence has only to surround his bed
with sifted cinders and the next morning he will see the imprints
of cocks' feet.[227]

The same treatise goes on to give directions for seeing demons by
burning portions of a black cat and placing the ashes in one's eye:
"then at once one perceives the demons." The Talmud also explains that
devils particularly inhabit the waterspouts on houses and are fond of
drinking out of water-jugs, therefore it is advisable to pour a little
water out of a jug before drinking