05/01/2026
Wisdom from Sefer HaChasidim
DEMONS FOLLOW A PRESCRIBED ROUTE
124. When the Angel of Death comes to town, dogs begin to howl. Animals can see many things humans cannot perceive. For example, [when Balaam went to curse the Israelites, an angel of God planted himself in the road (Numbers 22:22)]. Balaam's donkey saw the angel that Balaam was unable to see. Why did the angel not move to the right or the left or rise upward to let the donkey pass? Because angels and demons cannot deviate from the route to which they are assigned. Therefore, it is dangerous to seal up a window or a door because a demon may have been ordered to enter the house by way of that door or window. [When boarding or sealing up a window, one should make a small hole in the board. The reason the donkey edged over to the side, crushing Balaam's foot against the wall, was so as to allow the angel to pass along the prescribed path.
[Paragraph 20 in Rabbi Yehudah HeChasid's ethical will reads:
You should not seal up a window or door completely lest the demons who are used to exit via this window or door cause harm. You should make a hole in it.]
