Ben-Amos, DanKallus, Menachem2023-05-232023-05-232008-01-012017-10-18Ben-Amos, D. & Kallus, M. (2008). Angels. In Hunder, G.D. (Ed.), The YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe. New Haven: Yale University Press.https://repository.upenn.edu/handle/20.500.14332/41329Jewish tradition considers angels to be messengers of God, but holds that they must not be substituted for God. Isaiah 63:9 speaks of the angel of God's divine countenance—an important designation in Jewish mysticism that has variously been taken to mean the archangel Metatron, the Shekhinah (or immanent divine presence), or the redeeming angel and was understood by some to be an extension of God and a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. The Talmud (Hagigah 13b) declares that each divine angelic legion is formed of a million members, but that the legions themselves are numberless.Originally published in The YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe © 2008 Yale University Press. Reproduced with permission. The original volume is available at https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300119039/yivo-encyclopedia-jews-eastern-europeBiblical StudiesCultural HistoryHistory of ReligionJewish StudiesNear and Middle Eastern StudiesReligious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of ReligionBook Chapter