The manipulation of nature through the use of evil forces. Its use is forbidden by the Torah.
10
votes
3answers
102 views
Why is there a difference of opinion about whether modern magic is prohibited or permitted?
I'm an amateur magician.
All of the Ashkenazi rabbis that I've talked to said that as long as my audience knows that I am just doing tricks and not real magic, the Torah allows me to perform magic ...
2
votes
2answers
121 views
Why did the Egyptian “astrologers” tell Pharaoh that a savior would be born?
רש"י suggests that Pharaoh's astrologers told him that they had a vision that a savior would be born on a certain day (שמות א:כב & שמות א:טז). Assuming the “astrologers” had no real power of ...
2
votes
3answers
252 views
Clairvoyant Powers
Recently met a certain Rabbi with clairvoyant powers.
He was able to look at my name and tell me all sorts of spooky stuff. For example, that I have two mezuzas with problems. (I hired a sofer to ...
13
votes
2answers
217 views
Why is practical kabbalah not considered kishuf?
To preface I know next to nothing about so called 'practical kabbalah'. But from the few things I have read about, things like face or palm reading, making a golem (essentially an android) or any ...
2
votes
2answers
108 views
Magicians of Egypt (sometimes referred to as Jannes and Jambres)
Exodus 7:11 ESV
Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the
magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts.
Exodus 7:11 Hebrew Study Bible (Apostolic / ...
11
votes
5answers
342 views
Did the Rambam believe in magic?
If you read through Chapter 11 of the Rambam's laws on Idol Worship, you'll see what seems to be the Rambam forbidding anything that even resembles magic, all while calling such practices foolish and ...
4
votes
1answer
347 views
How are sorcery or witchcraft viewed in Judaism and Jewish Mysticism?
How are sorcery or witchcraft viewed in Judaism? I have heard that it has something to do with Kabbalah. Please correct me if I am wrong. Also Solomon (may peace and blessings be upon him) is falsely ...
8
votes
1answer
229 views
Flying and sorcery
Rashi (Sanhedrin 44b, s.v. D'ba'ya) relates the story of Shimon ben Shetach's capture of 80 witches. He instructed his students to pick up the witches because the sorcery would be powerless against ...
11
votes
3answers
243 views
Did the prophets practice magic?
The Torah clearly prohibits all forms of magic, which we might define as the achievement of any supernatural phenomenon.
Yet we find many neviim, most blatantly Eliyahu and Elisha, achieving many ...
9
votes
2answers
379 views
Is hamsa allowed?
Does the Halacha allow the use of a hamsa as a good luck charm, considering that it originated as a Muslim symbol?
12
votes
2answers
550 views
Why is there no magic today?
Throughout Tanach and Talmud, there are numerous recorded uses and practitioners of magic1.
From Pharaoh's magicians to Shaul's necromancer, and magic cucumbers to were-donkeys, the references are ...
12
votes
3answers
353 views
Hypnosis in Halacha
Is there a proplem in the Halachic literature with hypnosis? What, if anything, is the issue involved in either hypnotising people or being the subject of such an hypnosis?
7
votes
3answers
141 views
Why did the Mitzryim turn water into blood rather than vice versa?
Why didn't the Mitzryim magic makers just take away the blood from the first makkah to prove to Moshe that he was just doing magic and Hashem had nothing to do with it: why did they add blood (Exodus ...
9
votes
2answers
272 views
Where are the magic cucumbers discussed in the Talmud?
Where are the magic cucumbers discussed in the Gemara by a Rabbi proud of his knowledge? Are magic cucumbers discussed elsewhere? Thanks.
4
votes
3answers
286 views
What practices are affected by a belief in demons?
Inspired by R' Slifkin's new monograph, Wrestling with Demons, and acknowledging the fact that the existence of sheidim and other things magical in nature is an age-old dispute, I am wondering about ...
3
votes
1answer
86 views
Black Magic by Pharaoh's Magicians
What are the various opinions regarding the efficacy of the magician's in the Exodus story?
