DEUT920 In the Torah, there were many "experts" who claimed that they could cure disease and sickness using ways and methods that did not involve standard medical practices. What all of these practices had in common was that these individuals believed they possessed a power to heal that came from some place other than God. Therefore, all these "alternative therapies" (as outlined in the Torah), which are based on a belief in other powers such as idols, are forbidden. Although we no longer have the same deep desire to worship idols today, Judaism still believes that anytime some other power than God is claimed to be involved, that practice is forbidden. Thus, healing by using witchcraft is forbidden in the Torah, as is the healing of a wizard, relying on omens, astrology, (stick) divination, mediums, or illusions to provide a cure (Exodus 25:17, Leviticus 20:27, Deuteronomy 18:9-12).

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DEUT921 Do not practice divination. The term קוסם (koseim) refers to someone who secludes himself and focuses his mind entirely on some matter of the future that he wants to know. By mentally blocking out all matters of the physical world and intentionally concentrating on what he seeks to know, his soul mingles with spiritual forces associated with events that are about to transpire in the near future. Even so, diviners do not attain an accurate and clear picture of what will be. It goes without saying that they are powerless to know anything of the distant future of, for these matters are revealed only to genuine prophets. The perfect Torah forbids divination and the like because these practices lead the unlearned to a false conclusion. When they see that some of what the diviner say comes true, they mistakenly conclude that all that transpires in the world is controlled by stars, planets and other forces of astrology. People who harbor this mistaken notion are almost as those who maintain (Yechezkel 8:12), “The Lord has abandoned the physical world.” If someone seeks information from a diviner, he has not violated this prohibition, but his deed is truly shameful. Why should a Jew turn his thoughts to foolishness? How can he waste his time on it? Hashem has given every human being creativity and superior powers of intelligence. He has revealed to the Jewish nation His Infinite Wisdom as embodied in the Torah, so how can a Jew turn his thoughts to practices such as soothsaying? Rather, as a member of the Chosen People, each Jew should devote his thoughts to proper and devoted service of his Maker and never fear even one word of the soothsayers! Always, a Jew must realize that Hashem is managing the world and anytime He wants He can alter what He has set into motion through the agency of cosmic forces. Hashem has the power to totally deactivate the astrological forces and change what is destined to be, in order to bestow kindness on all who are faithful to Him. As is known, the nation of Israel is not under the sway of any star or mazal, for the Almighty manages all of our affairs directly.

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DEUT922 The subordination of the Gods to magic is a universal characteristic of paganism. "Pagan religion even in its highest manifestation, is amenable to believe in magic" because there is "the ever present assumption of a realm of forces apart from the Gods." Magical rites that supposedly have access to these forces "are viewed as automatically effective, or even capable of coercing the Gods to do the will of the practitioner." Kaufmann, The Faith of a Heretic. New York: Doubleday, 1961; p. 40. The Biblical-Rabbinic tradition is unequivocally opposed to magic [this verse and two preceding]. Few things so clearly distinguish Judaism from all forms of paganism as Judaism's insistence that God is in no way subject to magic or coercion of any kind. The holy righteous man ever bears in mind that God owes him nothing.... (Job 41:3).

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DEUT923 See [[LEV250]] Leviticus 19:26 soothsayer divination GATES 263-5

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DEUT924 Do not practice witchcraft (sorcery). See [[EXOD634]] Exodus 22:17 sorceress CHINUCH 41

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DEUT925 Do not seek contact with the dead. See [[EXOD634]] Exodus 22:17 sorceress CHINUCH 41

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DEUT926 Amongst you there shall not be found... a charmer. No Jew is allowed to say charms. That is, do not utter certain sounds or words and tell people that the utterances have the power to help or damage something or someone. For example, a charmer will utter something over a snake or scorpion and claim that now the creature will not bite. Or someone will be suffering from a painful wound and a charmer will utter something over it in order to remove the pain. Some explain that a charmer is someone who uses utterances to gather snakes or other creatures to one place. We find that the Sages permit us to recite verses in order to protect ourselves from damaging forces (mazikim), for such does not fall under the prohibition of uttering charms. Reciting verses inspires us to seek shelter with Hashem and place all of our trust in Him. It helps us to fill our hearts with fear and awe of Him, and place our reliance on His goodness. When these feelings fill our hearts, He surely will protect us from harm. Saying words of Torah to awaken our souls to the truth is not forbidden. Although we hope that in the merit of this act we will gain Heaven's protection, the Torah allows such utterances, for the act, in fact, gives us such merit, so it is not regarded as uttering charms.

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DEUT927 Although we must judge people favorably, we should always be on the alert not to be cheated. The Chofetz Chayim used to say, "The Torah obliges us to trust wholeheartedly in God, but not in man. A person must always be on the alert not to be cheated." (Chofetz Chayim al Hatorah, on this verse). The Chofetz Chayim devoted his life to spreading the principle of brotherly love, the prohibition against speaking against others, and the commandment to judge people favorably. Though he was not the least bit cynical, he was also not naïve. He understood the world and human weaknesses. ... In Mesichta Derech Eretz Rabbah (ch.5) it is stated that we should honor every person we meet as we would Rabbi Gamliel [head of the Sanhedrin] but we should nevertheless be suspicious that he might be dishonest.

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DEUT928 See [[NUM290]] Numbers 23:24 lion SINAI2 143

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DEUT930 See [[NUM390]] Numbers 33:35 Etzion-geber AMJV 342-3

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