Superstitions

Gentile practices related to idolatry or magic.

Notable Sources

All Sources

Prohibited Practices

TANAKH

The Torah explicitly prohibits engaging in idolatrous and magical practices, emphasizing the importance of direct faith in God. Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Torah, outlines these prohibitions as part of Moses' final speeches to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land.

Let no one be found among you who consigns a son or daughter to the fire, or who is an augur, a soothsayer, a diviner, a sorcerer,

Deuteronomy 18:10

The Souls of Hoshana Rabba

HALAKHAH

Various beliefs about the activities of the dead are present in different sources The Sefer Chasidim, a medieval German Jewish text which records many folk traditions, as well as legal discussions and pietistic practices, discusses mystical beliefs associated with the holiday Hoshana Rabba, including the impact of burial conditions on the soul's activities.

There is a night when the souls come out of their graves, like on the eve of Hoshana Rabba, when they come out and pray. And two people already went and hid themselves in the graveyard and heard that one was calling to her friend: Let us go and pray together! All of the souls came out and prayed and asked for mercy so that death would not be decreed upon the living, and those who will die that they return from their evil ways, and that they die through minor illness, and about every matter of the living and the dead…

Sefer Chasidim 452:1

The Power of the Second Month of Adar

CHASIDUT

Leap years in the Jewish calendar have a doubled month of Adar. The Bnei Yissaschar, a classic Chassidic text from the early 19th century, explains mystical beliefs about the second month of Adar, based on its lack of astrological constellation, as well as its association with the holiday Purim .

And magic can not rule over someone born in the second Adar (Rabbenu Ephraim on the Torah, cited by the great Rabbi Chida [Chaim David Azulai] in the book, Devash LeFi). And it appears to me that this is because magic is done according to the order of the constellations at a certain time and a certain day with unusual acts; but this month has no constellation (mazal), since it is added to the twelve. And I heard in passing that the decree of Haman was on a second Adar; and so is it found in the books of the earlier ones…

Bnei Yissaschar, Adar 1:10:1

Dogs and the Supernatural

TALMUD

The rabbis believed that dogs could sense supernatural presences, such as the Angel of Death or Elijah the prophet. The Talmudic tractate Bava Kamma discusses how the behavior of dogs, like crying or playing, can be interpreted as signs of these significant spiritual events.

The Sages taught: If the dogs in a certain place are crying for no reason, it is a sign that they feel the Angel of Death has come to the city. If the dogs are playing, it is a sign that they feel that Elijah the prophet has come to the city. These matters apply only if there is no female dog among them. If there is a female dog nearby, their crying or playing is likely due to her presence.

Bava Kamma 60b:10

The Wisdom and Powers of King Solomon

SECOND TEMPLE

King Solomon is renowned for his wisdom in all disciplines, including esoteric ones. In his historical work, Josephus recounts the sagacity and supernatural abilities of King Solomon, including his expertise in handling demons.

5. Now the sagacity and wisdom which God had bestowed on Solomon was so great, that he exceeded the ancients; insomuch that he was no way inferior to the Egyptians, who are said to have been beyond all men in understanding; nay, indeed, it is evident that their sagacity was very much inferior to that of the king's. He also excelled and distinguished himself in wisdom above those who were most eminent among the Hebrews at that time for shrewdness; those I mean were Ethan, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol…

The Antiquities of the Jews 8:2:5

Ghosts and Wineskins

COMMENTARY

In forbidding occult practices, the Torah uses various words to refer to different arts of divination, necromancy and the like. Ibn Ezra, a 12th century Spanish polymath, notes the relationship between a term meaning ghosts (and communication with them) and a word for wineskins.

THE GHOSTS. Ovot (ghosts) is related to the word ovot (wineskins) in Like new wine-skins (Job 32:19), for wineskins are the main instruments in this “art.”

Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 19:31:1

The Cost of Purity

KABBALAH

The Zohar emphasizes the importance of making a full payment to remove an impure spirit, highlighting the ease with which these spirits can entice people. This foundational work of Jewish mysticism, the Zohar, delves into the esoteric aspects of the Torah and the nature of impure spirits.

In the book of sorcery from which Ashmedai taught King Solomon, it is written that he who desires to remove from himself the spirit of impurity and to subdue that spirit, must be prepared to pay in return for the fulfilment of his wishes whatever is demanded. For the spirit of impurity tempts the heart of man with many allurements, in order to take up its abode with him.

Zohar, Terumah 6:36

Rationalizing the Irrational

RESPONSA

Questions about the permissibility of using magical incantations and practices to treat disease lie at the intersection of faith, medicine, and rationality. Rabbi Yair Chaim Bacharach, a prominent 17th-century rabbi, explores the boundaries between superstition and rational medical practices in his responsa.

[The permissibility of using magical incantations and practices to treat disease is discussed in the halachic literature. In this responsa Rabbi Bachrach argues that seemingly irrational medical practices ought to be assumed to be based on rational science.] You asked a question regarding the incantations which some women know for certain aches, pains, and diseases, if they (i.e. the incantations) are prohibited because of “the ways of the Emorites.”...

Havot Yair 234:1

Auspicious Beginnings in Business

TALMUD

The rabbinic tradition includes various tensions about the appropriateness of drawing conclusions from signs. Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar teaches in tractate Chullin that the outcomes of significant life events can be indicators of future success, though they should not be relied upon for divination.

It is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says: With regard to one who is successful with his first business transaction after he has built a home, after the birth of a child, or after he marries a woman, even though he may not use this as a means of divination to decide upon future courses of action, it is an auspicious sign that he will continue to be successful. Conversely, if his first transaction is not successful he may take that as an inauspicious sign.

Chullin 95b:13

Divine Guidance vs. Superstition

TARGUM

The Israelites were instructed to avoid the superstitious practices of other nations and instead rely on divine guidance. The Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, an Aramaic translation and interpretation of the Torah, contrasts these practices and emphasizes the use of Urim and Thummim and true prophets for divine inquiry.

For these nations which thou art about to dispossess have listened to inspectors of serpents and enchanters. But you are not to be like them the priests shall inquire by Urim and Thummim and a Right Prophet will the Lord your God give you;

Targum Jonathan on Deuteronomy 18:14

Avoiding Idolatrous Festivals

MISHNAH

The Mishnah identifies and prohibits engaging in business with gentiles on the days preceding their idolatrous festivals and personal celebratory days. This early third-century legal text reflects the Jewish community's efforts to maintain religious and cultural boundaries during the Roman period.

And these are the festivals of gentiles: Kalenda, Saturnalia, and Kratesis, and the day of the festival of their kings, and the birthday of the king, and the anniversary of the day of the death of the king. This is the statement of Rabbi Meir. And the Rabbis say: Every death that includes public burning is a festival that includes idol worship, and any death that does not include public burning is not a festival that includes idol worship. But in the case of the day of shaving his, i.e…

Mishnah Avodah Zarah 1:3

Protection Against the Evil Eye

LITURGY

The Seder Ma'amadot includes prayers specifically designed to invoke divine protection against witchcraft and the Evil Eye, drawing on the historical protection provided to the ancestors in the wilderness. This collection of prayers and readings, compiled in 11th century France, aims to invoke divine protection and blessings.

Master of the Universe, rescue Thy People, the House of Israel, from all forms of witchcraft, and from all forms of Evil Eye; and just as You spread Thy Wings over our ancestors who were in the wilderness in order to prevent the damaging effects of the Evil Eye of Balaam, so too spread Thy Wings over us in Thy Abundant Mercy, in order that we would be concealed in the concealment and the guidance of Thy Holy Names, to be protected from any Evil Eye.

Seder Ma'amadot 1:95

An amulet for protection, made by Shmuel Habib, the Middle East, 1827-8

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Gentile Practices of the Body and Clothing

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