The Dybbuk Box

The Dybbuk Box

In 2006, the film ‘Possession’ was released. It is about a box that is responsible for a series of hauntings & paranormal activity unleashed upon the person opening the box. What people probably don’t realise is that the film is based on a true story.

A Dybbuk derives from Jewish folk law. It is a malevolent, possessing spirit believed to be the dislocated soul of the dead. The word Dybbuk is a Hebrew word meaning ‘attachment’. The spirit will attach itself to a human host & inhabit the flesh until it has completed its mission after which it may, or may not, leave the hosts body.

The Dybbuk box refers to a real Jewish wine cabinet which was taken to America by a lady who survived the Holocaust after world war ii, she later died in 2001 age 103. The origin of the box dates back to 1938 when a group of Jewish women, from Lodz ghetto of pre world war ii, Poland, conducted a séance where they attempted to trap an evil spirit which they helped to manifest itself from the other side.

Kevin Mannis, a writer and antiques shop owner, bought the box at an auction of the survivor’s estate the year she died. Her granddaughter told Mr Mannis the box had been kept in the sewing room & was never opened because it contained a trapped Dybbuk. Mr Mannis offered to give the box back but the woman became hysterical & refused to take it. He did not think anything of what the woman said & took the box home. Mr Mannis claims the box was responsible for a number of horrific nightmares of an old hag possessing the box. Not thinking there was a connection, he gave the box to his mother who suffered a stroke the same day. It was then he made the connection & sold the box on eBay in 2004.

The box was purchased by Losif Neitzke. Curiosity got the better of him & he decided to open the box, which had not been done for some sixty years before. Inside he found:

• two pennies from the 1920’s
• a lock of blond hair bound by hemp cord
• a lock of brown hair bound by hemp cord
• a small statue engraved with the Hebrew word “Shalom”
• a small goblet
• two dried rose buds
• a single candle holder with four octopus shaped legs

 

The artefacts inside the Dybbuk

But that was not all he found in the box, an evil spirit was released at the same time causing havoc in his home. He claims the lights would burn out in the room the box resided, strange, dark figures would be seen throughout his house & his hair started to fall out in clumps. He also reported having nightmares of an old hag possessing the box.

 

The current owner of the box, Jason Haxton, bought the box from Losif’s room mate. He too decided to open the box & experienced unexplained health problems with his vision, choking & reported seeing odd lights & shadows. He immediately contacted  the Jewish family who created the box, which was originally made to connect the family with the spirit world during the Holocaust. The box was supposed to be buried with the 103 year old family member, who originally brought the box  to America, but the Orthodox Rabbi refused the request.

Jason Haxton with the Dybbuk in a gold ark encrusted with gold.

Jason Haxton decided not to get rid of the box, like the previous owners did, instead he worked along side with scientists, Kabbalists, Wiccan’s & anyone else who worked in the paranormal world to diffuse the energy & put the artefact in a rest state. It is now sealed within an acacia wooden ark lined in 24 carat gold, which has since calmed its effects.