The legend of the phoenix appears in different cultures - from Greek mythology and ancient Egypt to modern fantasy stories. The legendary bird is made of fire and lives for centuries before it bursts into flames and is reborn from the ashes.Despite the headline, the article itself (correctly) does not assert that the phoenix originated in Judaism. But the creature does make appearances in rabbinic literature and subsequent Jewish traditions.However, the mythical winged creature also makes several appearances in Jewish scripture and subsequent commentaries on the Hebrew Bible.
“In all mythologies, there is a concept of hope after loss and death. The possibility for Tikkun (amendment/fixing) exists in the phoenix itself – and it is very strong,” says Ayala Dekel, an author and a spiritual expert who serves as the head of the secular yeshiva The Jewish Movement for Social Change.
[...]
For more on the phoenix in the Talmud, see here — alas with bad link, but still with substantive comment.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
