Magic and Miracles in the Talmud: Class 1

MISHNA: The subverter: this is one who says Let us go and worship idols. The warlock: One who performs a real sorcerous act is liable, but not one who deceives the eyes. Rabbi Akiva says in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua: Two can gather cucumbers. One who gathers is exempt, and one who gathers is liable. The one who performs a real sorcerous act is liable, and the one who deceives the eyes is exempt.

§ Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Why is it called keshafim? Because it contradicts the heavenly entourage [shemakhḥishin pamalia shel mala].

"There is none else besides Him” (Deuteronomy 4:35). Rabbi Ḥanina says: even for a matter of sorcery; A certain woman who was attempting to take dust from under the feet of Rabbi Ḥanina. Rabbi Ḥanina said to her: If you succeed, go and do it. As it is written: “There is none else besides Him.” Is that so? But doesn’t Rabbi Yoḥanan say: Why is it called keshafim? Because it contradicts the heavenly entourage [shemakhḥishin pamalia shel mala]. Rabbi Ḥanina is different, as his merit is great.

Abaye says: The halakhot of sorcery are like the halakhot of Shabbat. There are some for which one is punished by stoning, and there are some for which one is exempt but they are prohibited , and there are some that are permitted ab initio. One who performs a real, sorcerous act is punished by stoning. One who deceives the eyes is exempt, but it is prohibited . Permitted ab initio is like Rav Ḥanina and Rav Oshaya. Every Shabbat eve they would engage in the halakhot of creation, and a third-born calf would be created for them, and they would eat it.

Rav Ashi said: I saw Karna’s father blow his nose and cast rolls of silk from his nostrils.

“And the magicians said to Pharaoh: This is the finger of God” (Exodus 8:15), Rabbi Eliezer says: we learn from here that a demon cannot create an entity smaller than a barley grain. Rav Pappa said: By God! They cannot create even as big as a camel. They can gather these, but they cannot gather those.

Rav said to Rabbi Ḥiyya: I myself saw a certain Arab who took a sword and sliced a camel and beat a drum [betavla], and it arose. He said to him: Was there blood and excretion afterward? Rather, that was a deception of the eyes.

Ze’eiri happened to come to Alexandria of Egypt. He bought a donkey. When he was about to give it a drink, the magic melted and it turned into the plank of a bridge. They said to him: If you were not Ze’eiri, we would not refund you . Is there anyone who buys an item here and does not examine it with water?

Yannai arrived at a certain inn. He said to them: Give me water to drink. They brought him flour mixed with water. He saw that her lips were whispering, he threw a bit of it, and it turned into scorpions. He said to them: I drank from yours; you too drink from mine. He gave it to her to drink and she turned into a donkey. He rode upon her and went to the marketplace. Her friend came and released her, and people saw him riding on a woman in the marketplace.

“And the frog came up and covered the land of Egypt” (Exodus 8:2). Rabbi Elazar says: It was one frog; it spawned and filled the entire land of Egypt. This is a dispute between tanna’im: Rabbi Akiva says: It was one frog, and it filled the entire land of Egypt. Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya said to him: Akiva, what are you doing with aggada? Take your statements to Nega’im and Oholot. It was one frog; it whistled, and they came.

Rava says: If the righteous wish, they can create a world, as it is stated: “But your iniquities have separated etc.” Rava created a man. He sent it before Rabbi Zeira. He would speak to him but he would not reply. He said to him: You are from the chaveirim [the sages]. Return to your dust. Rav Ḥanina and Rav Oshaya would sit every Shabbat eve and engage in Sefer Yetzira, and a third-born calf [igla tilta] would be created for them, and they would eat it.

The Sages taught: There was an incident where one’s wife died, and she left a son to nurse, and he did not have wages to pay a wet-nurse. And a miracle was performed on his behalf, and he developed breasts like the two breasts of a woman, and he nursed his son. Rav Yosef said: Come and see how great this person is that such a miracle was performed on his behalf. Abaye said to him: On the contrary, how lowly is this person that the order of creation was altered on his behalf. Rav Yehuda said: Come and see how difficult it is to feed people that the order of creation had to be altered on his behalf. Rav Naḥman said: Know this, as miracles are performed; however, but food has never been created.