Page 144 - Tzurba M'Rabanan Volume1

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

Magic and Deception of the Eyes

We saw previously that one of the prohibitions related to superstition is lo te’oneinu, which Rashi on Chumash
defined as acting based on time-calculations. In truth, though, in addressing the parallel verse in Sefer
Devarim, the Gemara actually notes that its definition is subject to dispute.

t Devarim 18:10 י:חי | םירבד . 22
ָ
There may not be found among you one who sends his son or daughter ם ֵ סֹק ׁש ֵ א ָּ ב ֹו ּ ת ִ בּו־ֹוֽנ ְּ ב רי ִ ב ֲ ע ַ מ ך ְ ב א ֵ צ ָּ מִי־אֽלֹ
to pass through fire, one who divines divinations, a soothsayer :ף ֵֽ ׁ ּ ש ַ כ ְ מּו ׁש ֵ חַנ ְ מּו ןֵנֹוע ְ מ םי ִ מ ָ ס ְ ק
[me’onein], an enchanter [menacheish] or a sorcerer [mechasheif].

h Masechet Sanhedrin 65b :הס ןירדהנס תכסמ . 23
The Sages taught: With regard to the definition of the soothsayer הז :רמוא ןועמש יבר ,ןנועמ :ןנבר ונת
mentioned in the verse, Rabbi Shimon says: This is one who .ןיעה לע רוכז ינימ העבש ריבעמה
applies seven types of semen to one’s eye in order to perform .םיניעה תא זחואה הז :םירמוא םימכחו
sorcery. And the Rabbis say: This is one who deceives the eyes, םיתע בשחמה הז :רמוא אביקע יבר
as though he is performing sorcery. Rabbi Akiva says: This is one רחמל ,תאצל הפי םויה :רמואו ,תועשו
who calculates the fortune of times and hours, and says, for ,חקיל הפי
example: Today is a propitious day for going away on a journey;
tomorrow is propitious for purchasing property successfully.

According to the Gemara here, Rabbi Akiva explains me’onein in the manner cited by Rashi above, while
Rabbi Shimon interprets it as referring to actions done for the purpose of sorcery, and the Rabbis interpret it
as referring to performing actions that deceive the eyes [achizat einayim], similar to sorcery.
The Rambam in the Mishneh Torah rules in accordance with both Rabbi Akiva and the Rabbis. Therefore, one
is liable in both of their scenarios of me’onein.

r Rambam, Hilchot Avoda Zara 11:8-9 הרז הדובע ׳לה | ם"במר . 24
Who is a soothsayer? It refers to those who give the times [that are ט – ח:אי
appropriate or inappropriate for acting]… It is forbidden to be a רוסא …םיתעה ינתונ ולא ןנועמ והזיא
soothsayer, even though no act is done, other than that he made
known the lies that fools believe to be words of truth and words אלא השעמ השע אלש יפ לע ףא ןנועל
of the wise. Anyone who does something because of the stargazers ןהש ןימדמ םיליסכהש םיבזכה ןתוא עידוה
and times his work or his journey at the time set by the heaven- ינפמ השועה לכו ,םימכח ירבדו תמא ירבד
gazers receives lashes, for it is said: “You shall not act based on time- ותואב ותכילה וא ותכאלמ ןויכו תונינגטצאה
based calculations [lo te’oneinu].” Likewise, one who deceives the הקול הז ירה םימש ירבוה ועבקש תעה
eyes by alleging to the onlookers that he is performing a wondrous םיניעה תא זחואה ןכו ,וננועת אל רמאנש
action, but in truth did nothing at all, is included as a me’onein and ןוהמת השעמ השועש םיאורה ינפב המדמו
receives lashes. .הקולו ןנועמ ללכב הז ירה השע אל אוהו

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