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The Rabbinic Response

Conservative Rabbi David Nelson of Congregation
Beth Shalom in Oak Park agreed that the belief is
central in Jewish thought. "We believe very deeply
that the part of us that we define as the soul, some
Rabbis debate the use of psychics and mediums
form of memory or legacy, the best portion of the
human being resides with God forever," he said. "We
in the context of Jewish law and literature.
have to believe this or this would be a very, very sad
existence."
But whether a psychic (a person who can access
struggle with their feelings about consulting medi-
JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR
information outside the realm of the physical
ums and psychics. Is it a viable way to reconnect
world) or a medium (an individual who acts as a
Special to the Jewish News
with loved ones who have died, a potential brush
telegraph of sorts for messages from deceased loved
IC ing Saul was troubled. Frankly, in his
with evil forces that is forbidden by Jewish law or
ones) can or should offer this information remains
position, who wouldn't be?
just a harmless parlor game?
a point of debate.
The Philistines were at the door with
Some rabbis say that the prohibitions against con-
a strong army ready to squash him. The
sulting a psychic or a medium are clear. Passages in
Forbidden By Torah
prophet Samuel, Saul's adviser and confidant, was
Deuteronomy and Leviticus as well as in the Talmud
dead and buried in Ramah. There was no one to
Before one can believe that communication can exist
and other Jewish texts forbid outright the consulting
interpret Saul's dreams or to offer him guidance. So
with those who have died, one must first believe that
of a fortuneteller or spirit channeler.
he did what people wrenched with uncertainty and
the soul survives the death of the human body. In
"Do not turn to ghosts and do not inquire of
grief had done before him and ever since: He con-
Judaism, that is a given.
familiar spirits, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord
sulted a medium.
your God," Leviticus 19:31 pro-
The problem was that Saul had .
claims.
banished from the land all sorts of
Rabbi Chaim Bergstein:
The following passage can be
bi Dannel
artain
people Schwartz:
have ver found in Deuteronomy 18:10-12:
wizards, fortunetellers and necro-
"lfa penon is not on a high
mancers — anyone with a seeming
"Let no one be found among you
level of purity, the connection
intuitive senses, intuitive who consigns his son or daughter to
metaphysical gift to offer guidance
from and communication with the
natures. But using t hose peop
the fire, or who is an augur, a sooth-
can be damaging. If the source
souls that had passed into olam haba
sayer, a diviner, a sorcerer, one who
of [the mediums] power -
to connect with souls Ofpeeples casts spells, or one who consults
(the world to come).
But after finding a woman known
is impure, it
who have died ghosts or familiar spirits or one who
as the Witch of En-Dor, he disguised
inquires of the dead. For anyone
can imprint
is not something who
himself and begged for an audience
does such things is abhorrent
on the other
we should do." to the Lord, and it is because of
with her. The woman was reluctant
to grant his request, citing the
these abhorrent things that the Lord
person's soul."
imposed law. But Saul gave her his
your God is dispossessing them
word that she would not be punished
before you."
and the woman believed him.
"It is in the Torah; it is in the
After contacting the soul of
Talmud. [The prohibition] is pretty
Samuel, the woman cried out that
said Rabbi Silberberg.
Rabbi clear,"
the man in the disguise was in fact
Reform Rabbi Dannel Schwartz
David Nelson: of Temple Shir Shalom in West
Saul, the king. Saul acknowledged
the truth of her statement and told
"We believe Bloomfield said he does believe that
her not to be afraid and to continue
certain people have intuitive gifts —
vex), deeply but using them is another matter.
relaying what the spirit of Samuel
had to say.
that the part
"They may be right on. They may
Samuel continued speaking
be able to contact souls. Certain
of
us
that
we
through her, saying that God was
people have very intuitive senses,
define as the soul resides intuitive natures," he said. "But
displeased with Saul and that the
Philistines would take Israel the next
with Godfirever." using those people to connect with
day and would kill Saul and his two
souls of people who have died is not
sons.
something we should do."
The passage in the 28th chapter of
To a degree, he understands why
the first book of Samuel is clear evi-
people contact mediums. He noted
dence from an early period not only
that he has lost people whom he has
of the existence of people with meta-
loved. "Those people who affected
physical powers but also the feeling that consulting
In the Torah and other Jewish literature, there are
me in my lifetime, they have been so special and so
them was forbidden in Judaism. The Torah had long
many references to Sheol, a spiritual plane to which
good that I can live with what they gave me while
before forbidden such activity.
the soul travels following the death of the body.
they were here.
Yet, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin writes in his book
Some of the descriptions are frightening and some
"That is the memory I want to keep," he said. "What
Biblical Literacy, the Bible's story of Saul consulting
calm, intimating that people will be reunited with
would be the purpose of trying to reach them again?"
the medium is "enduringly significant because it is a
their "kin" on the way to olam haba.
prooftext for the biblical belief in life after death."
"One of the basic tenets of Judaism is the survival
Point Of Debate
Moreover, he adds, "the medium, whom one would
of the soul," said Orthodox Rabbi Elimelech
expect the Bible to depict unsympathetically,
Silberberg of the Sara Tugman Bais Chabad Torah
While many rabbis agree with Schwartz and
emerges as a woman with a kind heart."
Center in West Bloomfield. Olam haba is mentioned
Silberberg, others say the prohibitions are not so
Even into the 21st century, people continue to
in the Torah. The Talmud is replete with [references]."
clear. Rabbi Elie Kaplan Spitz, a Conservative rabbi

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