1)

Why does the Torah juxtapose the Parshah of Mechashef to that of Mefateh?

1.

Oznayim la'Torah: Because if a man fancies a certain woman, he sometimes turns to a witch to cast a spell on her that she will agree to marry him.

2)

What is the definition of "Mechashef"?

1.

Sanhedrin, 67a: It is someone who performs an act of witchcraft 1 and not someone who merely deceives the eye. 2


1

And he is called "Mechashef" (the acronym of 'Makshif Pamalya shel Ma'alah') because Kishuf contradicts the Heavenly decrees. See Torah Temimah, note 179 (Sanhedrin, 67b)..

2

See Torah Temimah, note 177.

3)

A sorceress is Chayav Sekilah (Sanhedrin, 53b). Why does the Torah place a La'av against allowing her to live, rather than an Asei to sentence her to death,, as it does by other Chayvei Misah (See Shoftim, Devarim 17:7 and above, 21:12?

1.

Ramban: Because of the deep Tum'ah that is inherent in sorcery, which, due to powerful attraction that it holds over the fools who cleave to it, wreaks havoc among the people. 1

2.

Rashbam: Because it is the way of sorceresses to ply their trade in secret, and one needs to make a great effort to find and eliminate them. 2

3.

Hadar Zekenim: Because if the Sanhedrin would execute her, perhaps she would save herself through witchcraft. Therefore, anyone who can kill a witch is rewarded. 3


1

Ramban: And the Torah tends to treat more stringently sins that causes others to stumble or that threaten them - such as a Meisis (See Devarim 13:9) and a murderer (See Bamidbar 35:31).

2

Rashbam: Such as the episode with the eighty witches of Ashkelon whom Shimon ben Shetach hanged (See Yerushalmi Sanhedrin 6:6).

3

Hadar Zekenim: Which explains why Shimon ben Shetach hung eighty witches (not through the Sanhedrin) - Yerushalmi Sanhedrin 6:6.

4)

To which form of death is a Mechashef sentenced?

1.

Targum Yonasan and Sanhedrin, 67a: Sekilah (based on the Gezeirah Shavah "Lo Sechayeh" "Lo Yichyeh" in Yisro Sh'mos, 19:13 in connection with Har Sinai - Sanhedrin).

5)

Why does the Torah refer to a sorceress and not a sorcerer?

1.

Rashi and Ramban (in Parshas Shoftim, 17:2) 1 : Because sorcery is more common among women than among men. 2


1

Refer to Vayikra, 27:1:1:1.

2

See also Ba'al ha'Turim and refer also to 22:17:1:2.

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