I often say that I learn more from this blog than anyone else because my readers are so well informed. A very kind lady named Amie sent me an article today that was so shocking, so offensive, I thought it might’ve been parody, of the anti-Semitic variety.
Entitled “Queering the Jewish Holidays: How I Celebrate Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur,” the author is a self-described “Jewitch” meaning a Jewish Witch, who promotes ideas that have nothing to do with Judaism and everything to do with the dark side.
“It brings me a lot of joy to see and experience the ways in which Jewish tradition and Pagan tradition overlap and compliment one another,” she strangely claims, then describes an “apple craft” which involves cutting an apple to reveal a pentacle to “acknowledge that apples are magic, just like you and just like me.”
Now, I don’t know about you, but I have never, ever seen a pentacle inside of an apple, nor have I ever considered an apple to be magical. That is just downright odd!
Things get even weirder, as she describes a so-called “New Moon Ritual” that involves Tarot cards—something which is explicitly forbidden in the Torah, along with fortune tellers, oracles, soothsayers, psychics, etc.
Let’s be clear: If someone is practicing witchcraft, they can not simultaneously practice Judaism.
Judaism, rightfully so, condemns all forms of witchcraft because it is ungodly, unsafe, and sick. If someone chooses those beliefs, I don’t think they should be persecuted or harmed, not at all, but they are mentally disturbed and need our help and compassion.
Unfortunately, this is not a single case of one mixed-up girl. There are repulsive necklaces for sale that combine a Star of David with a Pentagram; a terrible website called Jewitch whose members attend creepy “Jewitch Camps” in the woods; and The Forward wrote about others, back in 2003, counting their numbers in the hundreds, describing them in this way:
“Jewitches have a strong sense of Jewish identity but also practice magic, cast spells and tend to identify with “goddess-directed” worship. Their beliefs run the gamut from strict monotheists to those who worship a pantheon of goddesses.
“There are two main schools of Jewitchery. On one end are “Jewish witches,” Jewish women who practice Wicca or another form of neo-pagan religion, combining their identity and spirituality practice with “Jewishness,” if not actual Judaism. On the other end of the continuum are “witchy Jews,” Jewish women who practice a form of normative Judaism and infuse it with a magical perspective gleaned from the pagan world.”
Whatever these ladies call themselves, they are all, 100% of them, not following Jewish law, which only recognizes one God, and rejects all forms of paganism or Goddess worship.
Maybe some folks think I’m overacting and it’s not a big deal, but I beg to differ. The occult has attracted troubled souls for centuries and it hurts those who are the most vulnerable, the most in need of God’s love and God’s word. I am totally against anything that separates people from that. We all need God, not false gods.
I’m willing to accept a wide range of philosophies and lifestyles, but not ones that are directly encouraging people to harm themselves; most definitely, it harms spiritually and a lot of times, it also hurts in a physical way.
For most, witchcraft is only a passing phase, thankfully, but it can do a lot of damage during its height—damage to the individual and damage to society. There is nothing good about witchcraft and anytime we see it, we must condemn it.
Good thing that you don’t really get to decide what other people do and who/what they consider themselves. Your version of Judaism is clearly not the only one. You can have your opinion, but it really isn’t going to affect anyone else or what they choose to do…
Do I get to decide? No, the Torah does. People can reject Torah if they choose, sure, but they’re not following Judaism.
There is no “your version” and “my version” of Judaism, there is One Torah only and it clearly forbids idolatry and witchcraft. You can’t serve G-d and baal at the same time.
“If someone chooses these beliefs… they are mentally ill and need our help.” WOW. Just wow.
Also, “the dark side”? Seriously?
Did you even do any research before writing this absurdly prejudiced article?
Paganism is far older than Judaism. There are many branches, but one thing they all have in common is worship of nature. Not, as you call it, “the dark side.”
Also, the Wiccan rede or law? The one rule we all follow? Simply “Do as ye will, so you harm none.” In other words, HARM NO ONE. This includes yourself.
The fact that you are telling all your followers that “we must condemn witchcraft whenever we see it” because it “encourages people to harm themselves” is not just grossly ignorant, it’s bigoted and wrong.
P.S. I wrote that last comment out in a quick angry wave, and now see I cannot edit it.
I just wanted to post one last thing noting that I was wrong in stating that all Pagans *worship* nature – but we do respect and venerate it, and thus, most of our holidays pertain to the changing of the seasons, or “the wheel of the year.” I don’t want to spread any misinformation, especially considering that’s the thing I’m accusing you of.
We (Pagans) don’t all believe in a slew of G-ds or G-desses, although yes, most of us are polytheistic. Many of us believe in angels (which I believe are mentioned in the Old Testament) or nature spirits. We are not “on the dark side.” We are not sick or mentally ill. We certainly do not need your help.
I do not consider myself a “Jewitch,” but I was raised as a Jew, and now identify as a Pagan. My family (some of whom lived through the Holocaust) raised me to be open minded and tolerant of *all* religions. They knew firsthand the pain of being vilified for what they believe in.
So who are you to say that anyone elses’ G-d (or G-ds) are false? Who are you to imply that your faith is The One true religion, your book is The One to read, your Path is The One to travel?
Shame on you.
That’s all.
How is a practitioner harming themselves may I ask? Witch craft and Wiccan paganism explicitly forbids self harm to perform a spell that is not witchcraft that… Something else intirely. Jewitches are just as valid as you and I.
I am a Jewitch, and I probably daven more often than my mainstream critics.
Jewitchery is an extremely individual thing, and we don’t all believe the same things or practice the same way. Very similar to mainstream Jews.
Some Jewitches worship goddesses, some don’t, some say the shema 6x a day, some don’t. Some eat kosher, and some don’t. Some use wands or staffs….. And some don’t, and the variation goes on and on.
I remember reading something interesting on askmoses.com… a Jewish person asked how they could denounce their Judiasm, and if there’s a Jewish ritual for that. The columnist laughed and said, “you’re like a kid who says you’re running away but just keeps going round the block, because your parents told you to stay out of the street! Once a Jew always a Jew. One cannot run from it. A Jewish soul is always Jewish, no matter what they try.”
Ipso facto, no one can tell a Jew that they aren’t “really Jewish.” No matter what. Because 1, it’s inaccurate. And 2, it’s against Halacha. Just something to think about. 🧚
I am not Jewish, but I completely agree. The Torah clearly states that there is one God alone, of whom is the only one worthy of worship and attention. To put ‘faith’ in other things clearly shows where our standards are…. You are not wrong to advise people to condemn witchcraft, it is real and is *all* against the True God.
In the Salem witch trials you were definitely Abigail LOL.
Great article! I can see Kofer idolaters are coping in the comments
Jewitches also made a video saying atheism is compatible with Judaism and she is proud of being with a Goy.
She is constantly promoting kfira and making Jews look like satanic witches like the anti Semites think of us.