In light of the recent UFO sightings in Jerusalem, and to quench the thirst of those who seek answers to the existence of UFOs, I feel obligated to share what I've learned from our Rabbis regarding this subject. Rabbi Zamir Cohen, in his book "The Coming Revolution -- Science Discovers the Truths about the Bible", dedicated an entire chapter just for this subject.
The Maharal (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzatto, zt"l), the great Kabalist, explains in his book, דרך השם (The Way of G-d), the structural hierachy of beings that Hashem created in the world, including men, angels and daemons. These strange creatures that we are focusing today are called שדים (often translated as daemons), and are composed of a turbid spirituality, somewhat insubstantial. They can shape-shift in their appearance, and can appear to human beings in a variety of forms.
There is however, another class that is like an intermediate between the spiritual and the physical. This consists of entities that cannot be detected by physical means and are not bound by the limitations and laws of ordinary detectable matter. For this reason, they might improperly be considered spiritual. Their essence, however, is very different that that of the angelic class, even though they resemble them in some ways. These entities also have specific attributes and unique limitations, based on their true nature. They are therefore considered a separate class, namely that of שדים (demons). This class also contains certain individual types, where each type may be considered a separate species belonging to the general class of Shedim. -- The Way of G-d, Part 1, Chapter 5.
Rabbi Cohen asks "Are these shedim the 'aliens' of modern times?" People have sworn to seeing aliens looking like those portrayed in science fiction films. Could these films be a reflection of real life? Or perhaps, real life reflects what is seen in the movies. Perhaps, those people saw shedim, who resembled, in their eyes, creatures from outer space.
The זוהר הקדוש (The Holy Zohar) speaks about alien life forms that exist beneath our world. The Zohar in 1:10a, 1:40a-1:41a explains that there are seven lands in the lower world: Eretz, Adama, Arka, Gia, Neshia, Tzia and Tevel, which encase each other like the peels of an onion. We, humans, live on Tevel, the largest of the lands. The Zohar says that there are very small creatures in all these places, humanoid in form, which also have an awareness of Hakadosh Baruch Hu; although far inferior to our own. Some of these creatures are clothed while others are covered in colorful layers, like armor, that may be red, black, white or a mixture. They have a life span of less than ten years.
The Zohar tells of a story about Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Yossi, who were journeying together and stopped to rest along a cracked rock. Suddenly, one of the inhabitants of Arka appeared before them and told them that in his land, there are inhabitants who look different than him. According to the Zohar, when Cain was banished from the earth, he was accepted by these inhabitants of Arka.
