Sheidim and the Supernatural
Sheidim, or spirits, are mentioned twice in Tanach. Join Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman as he explores what the great sages say about this phenomenon and other related topics of the supernatural in Judaism.
Sheidim and the Supernatural: Lesson
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to the first of two shiurim in this series on “Sheidim and the Supernatural.”
The illustration for this series notwithstanding, there won’t be any spooky stories told.
In today’s shiur I will simply discuss the question (which has been debated by our greatest thinkers ) of the relative roles of rational/critical thought and unquestioning belief in Judaism.
Sheidim and the Supernatural: Lesson
Hello Everyone
In today’s class we will discuss עין הרע or as it is called in English “the evil eye.”
Sheidim and the Supernatural: Lesson
Hello Everyone,
Today is the final session in the series “Sheidim and the Supernatural” so today we will discuss the subject of “magic.” The Torah warns us against engaging in practices which can be understood as “magical” in mseveral places. Does this mean that magic is real?
This question is particularly difficult for me to answer. With regard to the “reality” of either sheidim or ayin hara I could present both sides of the issue . With regard to “magic” (or however one chooses to translate the word כישוף) it is more difficult to present the side that says that it is not real because if it is merely sleight-of-hand then what precisely is forbidden by the Torah with the threat of the death penalty?
Nevertheless there are two sides to this question and I hope to explain them in this lesson.
Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman graduated from Yeshiva University in 1980 and the dental school of Columbia University in 1985. In 1989 he began studying and teaching at Yeshivat Hamivtar and now studies and teaches at Yeshivat Machanaim in Efrat. He has rabbinic ordination from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg.