לילית

Parshas Hashavua בראשית                     WHO IS לילית?   According to the Zohar, אדם הראשון had a first wife before חוה. She was formed from the dust and impurities of the earth. Refusing to accept אדם's authority, she fled from him, demanding equality — the first so-called "women's liberator." She later became a שדה (demon) whose goal was to harm newborn infants. Because of this, there developed an ancient מנהג to hang a שיר המעלות in the room of the mother and baby. לילית had sworn to אליהו הנביא that she would not harm anyone in a place where her name appears. The של"ה adds that the night before a bris requires special protection. Therefore, the father should remain awake that night, engaged in Torah study. This night is called "Vech Nacht "(Night of staying awake)