Magic: Is it real?

The Torah prohibits practices that we call “magic” in several places. What is fascinating is the question, “Is magic is real?” Probably most educated people who view themselves as rational do not believe that magic is real. We look kindly at children who are enthralled by the world of “Harry Potter” stories but we expect our children to realize that the world of Harry Potter is a fantasy.  It is a fact that when we look into the Jewish sources that some of the greatest authorities believed that magic actually is real. In the course with Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman explore the debate between those who believe that magic is real and those who say that it is nonsense. We will see the writings from both sides of the issue and we will see how the prohibition against magic is relevant in our society.