Jewish Magic
“The angels taught the daughters of men incantations, exorcisms, the cutting of roots, and revealed to them healing plants.” Apocrypha, Book of Enoch (9:7)
- Angels and healing magic: Some rabbinic explanations trace women’s healing magic to heavenly beings (divine beings, “angels”) who married human women and taught them spells. This was understood as a way for women to learn healing magic and not as an inherently evil practice.
- Star of David: Magen David signifies God as the protector (shield ) of David the two triangles often seen as representing the divine masculine (upwards)and feminine (downward pointing) energies symbolizing harmonious union. As well as representing the spiritual and earthly realms signifying the connection between the two. The star is believed to have magical properties and used in amulets to protect against evil spirits
- Jewish magic: Amulets – small objects inscribed with prayers or symbols offering protection, healing, or good luck. Examples include red string bracelets and the hamsa symbol.
- Amulet scribes and healers: The Talmud sometimes depicts sorceresses not a malevolent witches but as professional amulet scribes and healers. Some stories recount rabbis seeking advice from expert sorcercesses, indicating that some forms of magic were considered helpful and organized.
- Incantations: Spoken words or phrases believed to have magical powers to influence events or beings such as summoning angels or warding off demons
- Divination: Practices used to discern the future or gain insight into hidden matters
- Plants: Plant medicine and flower potions for healing
- Kabbalah– A form of Jewish mysticism that seeks the inner meaning of the Torah and the nature of God, viewing the world and the divine as interconnected. The word “Kabbalah” means “received,” referring to the tradition of sacred teachings passed down through generations. Kabbalah is AKA the “soul of Judaism.
- Halacha (Jewish law) is the body of Judaism, Kabbalah is often described as its soul, or inner meaning.
- Kabbalists study both the Torah: the Five Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) and the Zohar, which means “splendor,” a group of books on many mystical subjects.