Home -- Content: Series 7 (Laws) -- Translation: English -- Book: 1 (Tora) -- Part: 2 (Negative) -- Prohibition: 9 -- Text
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The Sharia of Moses in the TORA
Part 2 - The 365 Prohibitions of the Tora
9 - PRACTICING THE SORCERY OF THE YIDDE'ONI
This commandment forbids practicing the sorcery of a yidde’oni, this likewise being a species of idolatry. The yidde’oni takes the bone of a bird* called yido’a, puts it in his mouth, burns incense, recites certain prayers, and performs a certain ritual, until he is in a condition akin to fainting, and falls into a trance, in which he predicts the future. The sages say: “Yidde’oni – one who puts the bone of the yido’a** in his mouth, and*** speaks of itself. ”****
** V.: “of a bird known as yadd’ua.” It is not mentioned in Heller’s ed., nor in Sanh. ib., the source of this quotation
*** Lev. XIX, 31, Rashi
**** Sanh. 65b (Sonc. ed. p. 445)
The Sifra says: “In His words, “A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits” we hear the punishment, but we do not hear the admonition. Therefore, Scripture says, “Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits.”*