Page 148 - Tzurba M'Rabanan Volume1

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

If so, then there are two prohibitions included within ןויכד יקל אל ימנ וננועת אל םושמו ףשכמד ואל
this act, the prohibition of me’onein and the prohibition םא ףשכמ םושמ םג וילע רהזוה הז השעמ לעד
of mechasheif, as even though he is not liable to the death ואלו ןנועמד ואל ןיוואל ינש הז השעמב ללכנ ןכ
penalty or to lashes since he has not performed an action תוקלמו התימ בייח וניאד בג לע ףאד ףשכמד
of sorcery, nevertheless, the prohibition was written [to ואלה םוקמ לכמ םיפשכ השעמ השוע וניאש ןויכ
include] all cases not to engage in sorcery. Now that this ןנועמד הז ואל אתשה ףשכל אלש ןינע לכב בתכנ
prohibition of me’onein is given to a warning of death of
mechasheif, one does not receive lashes for it at all, even ןיאו ףשכמד ןיד תיב תתימ תרהזאל ןתינ אוה
for me’onein. .ןנועמ םושמ ףא ללכ וילע ןיקול

According to the Bach, it seems that practicing sleight of hand that is not based on sorcery is still prohibited
biblically. The Shach, commenting on the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch concerning deceiving the eyes,
accepts the approach of the Bach as practical halacha.

a Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 179:15 וט:טעק ד״וי | ע״וש . 30

Deception of the eyes is prohibited. But [if it is done] by .רתומ ,הריצי רפס י”עו .רוסא ,םיניעה תא זחוא
use of the Sefer Yetzira it is permitted.
7
.השעמ תושעל וליפא :הגה
Rema: [This is true] even by doing an action.
a Shach, Yoreh Deah 179:17 זי:טעק ד״וי | ך”ש . 31

See the Bach who cites the Rambam that even deception םיניע תזיחא םגד ם”במרה םשב בתכש ח”ב ןייע
of the eyes without sorcery but just through illusions and ידי לעו תולובחתו הארמ י”ע קר ףושכ י”ע וניאש
tricks and sleight of hand is prohibited. .רוסא דיב העונתה תולק

The Chochmat Adam appears to accept this approach as well, and adds that one who invites a person who
practices sleight of hand (what we call today a magician) to perform in front of others has also sinned, as he
has violated the prohibition of lifnei iver, causing someone else to sin.

a Chochmat Adam 89:6 ו:טפ ללכ | םדא תמכח . 32

The Sages further said: Who is a me’onein – this is one הז ןנועמ והזיא ):הס ןירדהנס( ל”זח ורמא דוע
who deceives the eyes. This is a type of trick that includes רבוחמ הלובחתה ןמ ןימ אוהו םיניעה תא זחואה
sleight of hand… And from this you should see that those ןתואש הארת הזמו …דיב העונתה תולק וילא
entertainers that do these types of acts at weddings and are תונותחה לע ולא םירבדכ ןישועש םינחדבה
called “tashin shpieler” transgress a Torah violation, and אתיירואד ואלב םירבוע רעליפש ןישאט ןיארקנו
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one who asks them to do so transgresses the prohibition of ימ ןכלו רוע ינפל םושמ רבוע ןתושעל הוצמהו
lifnei iver [causing another to sin]. Therefore, anyone who is
able to protest must protest; and it certainly is prohibited רוסאש ןכש לכו תוחמל ךירצ תוחמל ודיבש
to watch and see them [performing these tricks]. However, הארנ השועש יוג אוה םא לבא םתוארלו לכתסהל
if he [the magician] performing is a gentile, it seems to me :תוארל רתומד יל
that it is permitted to watch.

7. This subject is discussed in section 4 below.
8. The word shpiller refers to an actor or performer (similar to the word shpiel, such as a Purim shpiel, or play). The word tashin either means pockets
(as the magician would sometimes show his audience that his pockets were empty and nothing remained inside) or a table (like the word tisch in

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