HAUNTED HOUSE IN HALACHAH

In 1872, Rav Yosef Zechariah Stern (Zeicher Yehosef, Yoreh De’ah, vol. 2 no. 142), a prominent Lithuanian rabbi, was asked whether a house was cursed. After a house burned down, the gentile owner built a beautiful house in its place but died shortly after. A Jewish family bought the house but both the husband and wife died shortly after buying it. The house is now available at a discount. Should the prospective buyer avoid the seemingly cursed house?

The request was not just for advice but for research. Do Jewish texts have anything to say on the subject of a cursed house? As Rav Stern points out, they do, quite specifically. However, before reaching that point, he states his belief that this seems to be superstition. He then elaborates at surprising length on this issue.

The Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 16b) says that four things break a divine decree against a person: prayer, crying out, name change, and behavior change. Some say also a place change, i.e. moving. This could imply that the place where you live affects your success. However, the Gemara continues that this only refers to moving to Israel, and not moving from house to house or even country to country in the Diaspora.

Signs and Omens

The Torah (Lev. 19:26) explicitly forbids divination (nichush). The Gemara (Chullin 95) offers examples of forbidden divination from the actions of Eliezer (Gen. 24) and Yonasan (1 Sam. 14). There are many explanations what this means. Rashi (Chullin, as loc.) explains that if you say or think that if something unrelated happens (e.g. a black cat walks by) then you will take it is an omen that your upcoming business trip will succeed, then you have violated the prohibition against divination.

The Gemara adds that while nichush is forbidden, on three things siman is allowed: house, baby, and wife — if it is confirmed three times. Rambam (Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Avodah Zarah 11:5) understands this siman, this sign, as an indicator of the past, not the future. If you see a sign, then you can interpret the past based on the sign.

The Vilna Gaon (Bi’ur Ha-Gra, Yoreh De’ah 179:11) explains a sign as interpreting the past about the future. For example, if you see a black cat crossing your path and say that it means you will get hurt, you are interpreting the past as an indication of future success. This is forbidden except for signs on houses, babies, and wives that have successfully predicted the future three times.

According to the Rambam, the deaths in the house do not indicate anything about the future. According to the Vilna Gaon, they might if three people had died in the house. For some reason, Rav Stern considers this case to be one in which only two people died because of the house.

Sefer Chasidim (478) says that if you have a house in which three people died one after the other, and you fail to move away from the house, you are guilty of self-endangerment. As already mentioned, Rav Stern considers this a case in which only two people died in the house, perhaps because only the husband and wife died one after the other.

Serial Widow

The Gemara (Yevamos 64b) discusses the case of a katlanis, a woman who has been widowed three (or two) times. After three (or two) of her husbands die, she is considered dangerous to marry. First, Rav Stern points out that there seems to be no concern that she lived in the same house with each of her husbands who died. The Gemara does not entertain that possibility and instead assumes that she is the danger and not the house. Perhaps this implies that we do not have to worry about the house being dangerous. This argument from silence has its limitations.

More importantly, Rav Stern quotes the Rambam’s responsum (Pe’er Ha-Dor 146) regarding a katlanis case. He ruled that the whole concept of katlanis is not a matter of law but recommendation because there is no actual danger. This ruling generated a literature of commentary. Rav Stern explains it using the language of the Gemara (Pesachim 110b) regarding whether people should avoid doing things in even numbers (such as drinking four cups of wine) because of demons: Whoever is concerned has reason to worry. If you are not concerned, then you do not have to avoid even numbers. Rav Stern explains that this entire issue is in someone’s head. However, if you seriously fear these things, the psychological pressures will cause you trouble.

Conclusion

Rav Stern adds that while you are not prohibited by halachah to live in this house, you should investigate why the homeowners died. If the house emits noxious fumes, then scientifically the house itself may have played a role.

Aside from that, the only reason to refrain from buying the house is fear. Rav Stern offers his assurances that halachah permits their buying and moving into that house. If that alleviates the family’s worries, they should move in and celebrate their new home with a party in which they share Torah thoughts.