Torah and Jewish Idea > Torah and Jewish Idea
Video Study for Parsha Vayetzei
Israel Chai:
I studied this, and I can't find any Torah sources to back up amulets. If your emunah is in an amulet and not Hashem, it is deep idolatry. If you have emunah that Hashem will work through the amulet, then you have no faith in Hashem when you take it off, and it is idolatry like xtianity.
muman613:
--- Quote from: LKZ on November 14, 2013, 04:12:35 PM ---I studied this, and I can't find any Torah sources to back up amulets. If your emunah is in an amulet and not Hashem, it is deep idolatry. If you have emunah that Hashem will work through the amulet, then you have no faith in Hashem when you take it off, and it is idolatry like xtianity.
--- End quote ---
I never said that one should trust in amulets. I said that the Talmud most certainly discusses the amulet and whether it is permissible to move them on Shabbat.
Obviously everything in the Jewish world-view revolves around Hashems Hashgacha Pratis (Divine providence) and his involvement with the world. But the way he works in this world is through actions which we do.
I bring the Mezuzah which is a physical box containing the portions also contained in the Tefillin. Through our observing this commandment, Hashem promises us the merit of being protected from evil. So in this way it is similar to an amulet. But as you point out it is not any power of the amulet which is involved, but rather the fact that we did as Hashem commanded.
muman613:
Webshas points of the following portions of the Talmud which discuss amulets:
http://www.webshas.org/science/misc/super/amulets.htm
Amulets and Medicinal Chants
Amulets
Importance of distinguishing the targeted species in the amulet: Pesachim 111b
Specification of the location of the creature: Pesachim 111b
Format of writing an amulet [Galturei]: R. Shabbat 103b "Keivan"
Saving them from a fire on Shabbat: Shabbat 115b
The Surface on which amulets are written: Shabbat 78b, Gittin 22a
Medicinal Chants
For "Kafa" [Rashi: Poison, Rashbam: Worms] acquired from vegetables: Pesachim 116a
For sudden, inexplicable terror: Megillah 3a
Ephraim Ben Noach:
--- Quote from: LKZ on November 14, 2013, 04:12:35 PM ---I studied this, and I can't find any Torah sources to back up amulets. If your emunah is in an amulet and not Hashem, it is deep idolatry. If you have emunah that Hashem will work through the amulet, then you have no faith in Hashem when you take it off, and it is idolatry like xtianity.
--- End quote ---
So, would the Bronze snake in the desert be an idol?
muman613:
The core Jewish belief is in the Unity and Uniqueness of Hashem, there is no other power in all of the universe besides him, and he is the source of all energy used by every creation. No amulet or ritual object has any power on it's own, but rather when we utilize it in the manner which Hashem commanded, we are exhibiting our faith/emmunah and trust/bitachon in his divine providence.
Do not think I am arguing that amulets are magical and have any power. I am arguing that the Talmud and other Jewish sources include the use of amulets to strengthen our faith, as do our tzit-tzits which we see with our eyes, so that we remember the commandments. So too the mezuzah which we see on the door, and know that this is a Jewish home.
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