Speakers: Yoel Finkelman

Dr Yoel Finkelman discusses cosmic forces and the supernatural within Jewish history to today. The deliberate manipulation of supernatural forces for human ends has a long and surprisingly robust place in the history of Jewish ideas and practice. Jews throughout history cast spells, wrote amulets and crafted magical objects in order to heal the sick, battle natural disasters and save themselves from dark cosmic forces. Is such activity permitted? Is there a difference between good and bad magic? Has modern science and technology really put an end to Jewish magic, or is magical thinking still alive and well even among ‘rational’ people? Join Dr Yoel Finkelman, Curator of the Haim and Hanna Salomon Judaica Collection at the National Library of Israel for a spellbinding session featuring treasures from the NLI Collections.