Page 142 - Tzurba M'Rabanan Volume1

140 · Halachot of Sorcery, Magic, and Superstition Tzurba M’Rabanan

Astrology, Star Gazing,

and Lotteries

In addition to the prohibition discussed earlier of menachesh, divination, the Gemara and Shulchan Aruch
discuss another prohibition (referred to in the introduction to this shiur) to star gaze or use lotteries randomly
based on the verse of “tamim tihiyeh,” being complete with G-d.

h Masechet Pesachim 113b :גיק םיחספ תכסמ . 18
Rabba bar bar Chana said that Rabbi Shmuel bar Marta said that רב לאומש יבר רמא הנח רב רב הבר רמא
Rav said, citing Rabbi Yosei of Hutzal: From where is it derived :לצוה שיא יסוי יבר םושמ בר רמא אתרמ
that one may not consult astrologers? As it is stated: “You shall רמאנש – םיידלכב ןילאוש ןיאש ןיינמ
be wholehearted with the Lord your God” (Devarim 18:13). .ךיהלא 'ה םע היהת םימת
a Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 179:1 א:טעק ד״וי | ע״וש . 19

One may not consult astrologers nor those who cast lots. אלו םיבכוכב םיזוחב םילאוש ןיא
םימת :רמאנש םושמ :הגה .תולרוגב
Rema: [This is] because it is stated: “Be wholehearted with the
Lord your G-d.” How much more so is it forbidden to consult רוסאד ןכש לכו .ךיהלא 'ה םע היהת
magicians, diviners, and sorcerers. .םיפשכמו םישחנמו םימסוקב לואשל

At first glance, it is difficult to understand how casting lots can be forbidden, as there are a number of
examples in the Torah (e.g., the lots drawn for the goats on Yom Kippur in Parshat Acharei Mot) and the
Gemara where lots were drawn. In the case below, the Gemara allows drawing lots in order to determine the
plots of land inherited by multiple brothers after their father died.

h Masechet Bava Batra 106b :וק ארתב אבב תכסמ . 20

It is taught in a beraita: Rabbi Yosei says: When brothers divide ןויכ ,וקלחש ןיחאה :רמוא יסוי 'ר ,אינת
their father’s estate between them by lottery once the lot for one ?ט"מ .םלוכ ונק – ןהמ דחאל לרוג הלעש
of them is drawn, they all acquire the remainder of the property. המ ,לארשי ץרא תלחתכ :רזעלא 'ר רמא
What is the reason? Rabbi Elazar said: It is similar to the initial ןלהל המ יא .לרוגב ןאכ ףא ,לרוגב הלחת
division of Eretz Yisrael. Just as the initial division was carried out יפלקב ןאכ ףא ,םימותו םירואו יפלקב
by drawing lots, so too here, the brothers can divide their father’s אוההב :ישא בר רמא !םימותו םירואו
estate by drawing lots.If so, just as there, the initial division of
Eretz Yisrael was carried out through a receptacle [kalpi] in which ונקמו ירמג ,ידדהל יתייצ אקד האנה
lots were placed and through the Urim VeTummim, so too here, .ידדהל
the division of the father’s estate should be executed only through
a receptacle and the Urim VeTummim. Rav Ashi said: With the
satisfaction that each of the brothers receives that they listen to
each other and agree to accept the results of the lottery, they fully
transfer ownership to each other.

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