There was a [haunted] latrine in Tiberias where, even if two people used it at the same time – and even during the day- they would suffer harm [from evil spirits]. Rabbi Ammi and Rabbi Assi used to enter it separately, and they suffered no harm. The Rabbis said to them “Aren’t you afraid?” They replied: “[…] In the toilet you must be modest and silent [to avoid being cursed].”
[…]
A certain speaker went [to give a eulogy] in the presence of Rabbi Nahman, and he said “[the recently departed] was modest in everything he did.” Rav Nahman asked him: “Did you ever follow him into the latrine to determine whether he was modest or not?”
Gemara, Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot 62a
toilet ghosts: a worldwide menace throughout history
edit: after doing some reseach, it appears that the latrine of Tiberias would have specifically been haunted by sulak, the babylonian toilet demon. sulak usually only would only attack men at night while they were alone in enclosed outhouses
when i learned this it confirmed something that i have always suspected from years of experience. sulak is real. it doesn’t matter how rational and level-headed you think you are: if you have to use an outhouse on a dark and windy night, you are guaranteed to feel the toilet demon’s terrifying presence.
(via bulanbek)
I really don’t see why people don’t just hang up passive-aggressive Berachot 62a excerpts in public restrooms
R. Tanhum b. Hanilai said: Whoever behaves modestly in a privy is delivered from three things: from snakes, from scorpions, and from evil spirits. JUST SAYIN’
(via amanda-gayfried)
this is about masturbation, isn’t it
(via desliz)
SULAK THE BABYLONIAN TOILET DEMON
(via professorfangirl)
Oh, is that what we’re calling it now?
(via prettyarbitrary)