Parshas Shoftim 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- Aug 29
- 2 min read
לא ימצא בך וכו' קסם קסמים מעונן ומנחש ומכשף ... (יח-י)
MASHAL: R’ Yisroel Belsky zt”l related: One well-known proponent of the Reiki energy-healing method came to me, insisting that the practice of laying one’s hands on a patient to effect a cure for his ailment, must be unquestionably permitted. He described how he places his hands near his patient’s body and manipulates the person’s “aura.” An exchange of energy then takes place, causing the negative energy that is causing the pain, to dissipate. The patient, he said, comes away cured without even having been physically touched in any way. He said that this is exactly what the holy Rizhiner Rebbe, R’ Yisroel Friedman, zt”l would do. Apparently, the Rebbe once placed his hands upon a sick person, who was immediately healed.
I told this man that if the Rizhiner put his hands on a person, then it was certain that some element of kedushah transferred from the holy Rebbe into that person, and this is what cured him, for it forced the tumah (impurity) out. If these practitioners do, in fact, possess any power to bring about a similar effect, which is extremely doubtful, it is surely rooted in tumah, darkness and foolishness. This is what they transmit to others. Would it not be better to remain physically infirm than to allow oneself to be spiritually tainted by the impure energy it purports to have? The side effects of a forbidden cure are infinitely worse than the sickness itself.
NIMSHAL: R’ Matisyahu Saloman zt”l once observed: Who would think that in the 21st century we would be dealing with halachic questions of magic - yet these practitioners are doing exactly that. One needs to be very wary about any practice under the name “energy healing” and stay as far away from it as possible.