Astrology and Judaism

Astrology & Judaism

by Rabbi Efraim Sprecher, Dean of Students, Diaspora Yeshiva, Jerusalem

In Judaism, different attitudes have been expressed towards astrology. Most Talmudic sages believed in the decisive role played by celestial bodies in determining human affairs. It was possible, they thought, for astrologers to predict the future by consulting the stars but also for them to err in understanding the contents of their forecasts. According to the Talmud, everyone has a particular star (mazal) which is his patron. (Shabbat 53)

A number of Rabbis held the view that the power, which stars had over ordinary mortals, did not extend to Israel. Thus, Rabbi Yochanan said: "Israel is immune from planetary influence" (Shabbat 156a: ein mazal le-yisrael). On the other hand, Rava said: "Length of days, children, and finances do depend upon destiny" (mazal; Moed Katan 28a).

The attitude of the medieval thinkers was generally ambivalent; they believed in the power of the heavenly bodies but that that power was not absolute. Abraham ibn Ezra (c. 1092-1167) expressed the view that the Urim and Tummim (oracles) of the high priest were an astronomical instrument and that by consulting them, it was possible to read the future. Chasdai Crecas (c. 1340-c. 1410) held that although astrology could not be rebutted entirely, human free will and Divine Providence weakened its influence.

The only scholar to reject astrology completely was Maimonides (1135-1204) who regarded it as a vain superstition unworthy of being called a science. Asked by the rabbis of southern France whether it was possible to combine the theories of astrology with the principles of Judaism, he replied that astrology was no science at all and that it behooves us never to engage in it. Of Rava's statement, quoted above, he says: "It is possible that it was said only as a momentary ruling because of a particular circumstance at that time." He found astorolgy to be forbidden by the Torah in the command: "You shall not observe these times" (Leviticus 19:26 lo te'onenu; Hilchot Akkum 11:9), and criticized the Jews of antiquity for their superstitios faith in astrology, thereby bringing upon themselves the destruction of the Temple and exile.

Astrology has to some extent penetrated even the Codes of Law. One explanation of the custom of fasting on the anniversary of a parent's death (yahrtzeit) is that on that day the fate of the child is bad (re'a mazlei; Ba'er Hetev to Yoreh De'ah 402:12). It was also the custom in some communities to prepare a bed and table in a mother's room on the eve of her son's circumcision so that the child should enjoy good mazel (Be'er Hetev ibid. 178:3). A Jew should try to postpone litigation with a non-Jew in the inauspicious early part of the month Av (Orach Chayyim 551:1).

A vestige of astrology remains even today. The fact that mazal means "constellation", "planet", "fate", or "destiny", does not inhibit us on joyful occasions in individual and family life from wishing fellow Jews mazal tov.