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At some point whilst reading up on the imagery of angels, I came across an essay detailing how at least one Rabbi in history claimed (as far as I remember) that angels basically came either with male genitals or no genitals at all - never with female genitals - and these two sets of angels were essentially on different 'levels'.

I cannot remember who it was, nor can I find it now. I don't even remember if it was referring to Talmud, Kabbalah, or whatever. Does anyone have any clue about this? Either who said it, a Midrash on it, or has anyone read a similar essay? (Editing re' comments: Magen Avraham apparantly cites Midrash Rabbah, Devarim, parasha 2, Va'etchanan and Yalkut Shimonei to Mishlei 21:22 on this, but apparently there is 'another separate Midrash' establishing all angels as male? https://theedencenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Leelah-article.pdf)

(Just to be clear, I'm aware that we often think of angels as genderless/sexless, and that simultaneously we have imagery in the Tanakh and Talmud labelling angels as 'men' or 'women' at certain points, or implying it by grammar, such as the name of Lailah - although apparently this is contested and some say Lailah is regarded as 'male' despite the name. Also, there was no mention of demons in the essay.)

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  • Why the sexuality tag?
    – Rabbi Kaii
    Apr 26 at 13:04
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    @Rabbi Kaii Because there's no tag for 'genitals' (can't make my own yet) and the query overlaps with concepts around sex and gender (E.g: Rabbi Eliezer Waldenberg on angels and gender/sex reassignment and marriage).
    – ANH
    Apr 26 at 13:51
  • Talmud (Gittin 68a) mentions: שידה ושידתין - שד זכר ושד נקבה (male and female demons). Apr 26 at 16:55
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    Magen Avraham (OC 610:5) sefaria.org/Magen_Avraham.610.5?lang=bi Apr 26 at 17:10
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    I think that you misunderstood the Magen Avraham. He does not say that women are like male shepherding angels. To the contrary, he says that women can't even attempt to emulate angels, due to the fact that angels are all male, and they're female. [See Midrash quoted by מחצית השקל (ad loc.), שו"ת מנחת אלעזר (ח"ב, סי' סד)]. Apr 27 at 6:41

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