The Parsha this week is Balak; all about Bilam the Wizard's failed attempts to curse the Jews.
The Torah commands us to kill all witches and wizards. (Shmos 22:17)
It's forbidden to consult with witches and wizards.
To treat a life threatening situation that seems to be caused by the occult one may use a non-Jewish witch or wizard.
(Whether witches and wizards really exist, or if they are simply muggles adept at sleight of hand, is a matter of dispute amongst Rabbinical authorities.)
Source Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 166:5
- Danny
Thursday, 7 Tamuz 5768
Please daven for a little girl - TAMAR bat NAAMA - תמר בת נעמה - who is undergoing chemotherapy
Was Schmos 22:17, the commandment to kill witches and wizards, ever put into practice in Jewish society?
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteI believe the answer to your question is: Yes!
For example: We see in Shmuel-1 Ch 28 verse 3 (http://www.answers.com/topic/1-samuel-28) that King Saul cleared the land of all witches and wizards.
However, Bet Din never killed anybody unless they were warned not to do that specific sin and the sinner responded "I don't care" and then went ahead and did the sin in front of 2 Kosher witnesses. Not what you'd call a witch-hunt. :-)
- Danny