Page 156 - Tzurba M'Rabanan Volume1

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

Further Iyun

Three General Approaches to Magic and Superstition

in Jewish Philosophy

Rav Eitan Aviner (Graduate, the Manhigut Toranit Program)

The Three Approaches to heresy, but also directly impacts one’s
world view. It entices one to look to-
There are three basic approaches with- wards alternative sources other than the
in Jewish thought and philosophy con- Torah to guide his life choices.
cerning how to relate to magic and su- The mystical school of thought, head-
perstition, as will be enumerated below. ed by the Ramban, is of the approach
The extreme rationalist school, head- that magic and superstition are indeed
ed foremost by the Rambam, is of the view that real and very powerful. The Ramban in his com-
man has no hand in the supernatural. Involve- mentary on the Torah explains that the Torah
5
ment with magic and superstition is a futile en- prefers that one be “simple and perfect” in his
deavor of nonsense, disassociating man from service to G-d, and not seek out these aggressive
higher truths.It is for this reason that the Torah methods of intervention, despite their effective-
prohibited such behavior, as it distances man ness. This approach is further elaborated in his
further from his ultimate goal – that of proper responsa where he explains that the prohibition
6
1
character and correct knowledge. The Rambam is limited to going out and actively seeking for-
therefore refers to such preoccupation as “repul- tune telling and the like. But if one happened to
sive,” even if not strictly prohibited. The Sefer passively come across the information, then it is
2
3
HaChinuch elaborates further that involvement permitted to believe it and even act in accordance
in such activities of nonsense and fallacy distanc- with it, so long as one does not give it too much
es man from proper faith in Hashem and Torah credence, for the Jewish belief is that Hashem can
values and may even bring him to complete here- overturn any decree. The Ran similarly attrib-
7
sy, as he may come to think that there is no divine utes real power to magic and superstition, and
providence. Similarly, Rav Shimshon Raph- explains that the Torah nevertheless prohibited
ael Hirsch explains in his commentary on the such activities as they are the tools of Hashem
Torah that not only do such activities bring one
4

1. Responsa of the Rambam, Siman 218
2. See also Rambam, Hilchot Avoda Zara 11:4
3. Sefer HaChinuch, mitzva 249
4. Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch, commentary to Vayikra 19:26
5. Ramban on the Torah, Devarim 18:13
6. Responsa of the Rashba, Siman 283, attributed to the Ramban (although this specific response was actually written by the Ramban)
7. Derashot HaRan 4

This volume is not to be distributed. Copies are for the personal use of purchaser only.