Visiting the 'Baba' with 200 Shekels for a Blessing – Will Salvation Come from Here?

Times of distress and trouble provide fertile ground for various phenomena that are neither appropriate nor suitable for pious and believing Jews. One of these phenomena, which Rabbi Schach opposed vehemently on numerous occasions, is turning to different 'mystics', fortune tellers, and the like.

Rabbi Schach's opinion about these so-called 'mystics' was unequivocal. In one of his letters, he wrote on this topic: "Regarding the spread among many people who consult those claiming to foresee the future and how to behave, be aware that all these are frauds and ignoramuses, doing this for monetary gain, distributing amulets and various advice, and it is forbidden to rely on them, for they have no knowledge of these matters. Woe to us that such decline has occurred in our times—that every superstition holds a place among people! We must only observe and fulfill the commandments of Hashem and not question Him, and you shall be wholehearted with Hashem, and Hashem will forgive sin."

According to the 'Mystic', Names Don't Match - To Marry or Not?

Even when consulted regarding matchmaking, where individuals were hesitant because 'mystics' declared a 'mismatch in names', Rabbi Schach's opinion was not to consider it at all."They are neither prophets nor sons of prophets!", he would respond emphatically, instructing to completely ignore the "issue".

In another instance, when a sick relative consulted a 'mystic', Rabbi Schach replied: "Torah and prayer are the tools we know. Beyond them, there is nothing else in the world!" he concluded the discussion.

What About Palm Reading?

Similarly, Rabbi Schach responded to someone who asked about a diagnosis based on palm reading. In a letter to that individual, Rabbi Schach wrote unequivocally: "I tell you definitively that it is a complete prohibition to engage in this and forbidden to rely on it. It is explicitly stated in the Torah in Parashat Shoftim (Deuteronomy 18:17): 'You shall be wholehearted with Hashem your God', and see there the explanation of the Rambam, and it is in the Book of Commandments in the critiques of the Ramban at the end of the count of positive commandments, where he criticizes the Rambam for omitting this positive commandment of 'You shall be wholehearted', not to rely on what stars and constellations show. We must only trust Hashem and everything else is vanity".

Forced to Visit the "Baba", and What Happened with the Salvation?

Rabbi Yosef Hacohen Roth related a story illustrating Rabbi Schach's stance, and here's the story:: There was a man who found himself in dire straits, and in his distress, he turned to a 'mystic' of the type Rabbi Schach referred to. The problem was that this 'mystic' gave him a vague and unclear answer, which only exacerbated his doubts instead of reassuring him.

He thought that if a respected Torah scholar approached this 'mystic', he would receive a clearer answer, so he sent a family member to beseech a Torah scholar to do this favor for him—to go to the 'mystic', present himself as a relative, and request clarifications regarding the advice given..

However, this Torah scholar was a close associate of Rabbi Schach, and he knew Rabbi Schach's opinion on these matters well. Therefore, he was reluctant to approach the 'mystic'. Pressed by the requests of his family member, he decided to consult Rabbi Schach about the matter. If Rabbi Schach advised him to assist, he would do so despite his reservations, but if advised to withdraw, he would happily follow the instruction.

Indeed, it turned out that his reluctance was entirely justified. As soon as he presented the issue to Rabbi Schach, the rabbi arose and struck the table, exclaiming: "I wouldn't have believed a Torah student would come to ask such a question! This was not the way of our ancestors to resort to such means! We must do our duty: strengthen ourselves in Torah and mitzvot and pray more and more, and Heaven will have mercy on us! This is our way, this and no other!" he clarified emphatically..

By the way, the end of that story was that some time later, on the anniversary of his wife’s passing, when Rabbi Schach went to the cemetery to visit her resting place, he also went to the grave of Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein to pray and plead. While he was there, he met the Torah scholar who reported that the man's problem remained unresolved. "Let's see! Pray here at the grave, and surely the prayer will perform its blessed work and you will see salvation!" Rabbi Schach declared. Indeed, that is what happened: the prayer was offered from a deep heart, and salvation was not long in coming.…

This teaches us that we should only increase in prayer and supplication and not resort to dubious means of questionable benefit.

Courtesy of the "Dirshu" website.

How to know if a certain mystic is a true righteous person or just a poser? How come these posers have proven powers? Dudu Cohen in conversation with Rabbi Zamir Cohen. Watch: