Synopsis of A Dybbuk

A Dybbuk takes place in Poland at the turn of the century– for Jews a time of wretchedness, poverty and ever present terror from the prevailing local government. It is not difficult to understand why many devout souls became convinced that they would be delivered from their terrible tribulations by supernatural and mystical doctrines. To a poor, young, impressionable, sensitive, lonely, lovesick, Talmudic scholar, what else except the miraculous was there to place hope in?
The young rabbi, Chonen, is prevented from marrying Leah because he lacks the wealth her father, Sender, seeks for her. Chonen desperately tries to get riches by invoking Satan's help, but he dies at the very moment he is triumphantly crying out, "I have won!" Leah is distraught by Chonen's death, but she has little time to grieve, for she is betrothed to Menashe. On the night of her wedding, she visits her mother's grave; there she is possessed by a dybbuk, an alien spirit. It is Chonen's spirit. His spirit, unable to ascend to Heaven, must inhabit a human body. To exorcise this spirit, the family must go to Mirapol to consult the chief rabbis. Before the Dybbuk can be expelled, one of the rabbis, Rabbi Shimshin, has a dream. The dream reveals that as a youth, Sender and his friend Nissen had promised the betrothal of their yet unborn offspring, Leah and Chonen. The spirit of Nissen, who died shortly thereafter, now demands that Sender be brought to trial. The rabbinical court punishes Sender and exorcises the dybbuk amid much ceremony and shofar blowing. They also order the marriage of Leah and Menashe. But before the bridegroom can arrive, Leah dies and her spirit joins Chonen's. (Denver Center A Dybbuk Study Guide)