Last night Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto came out firmly against rabbis and counselors who engage in mysticism and determine fates based on amulets. He said that a sick person should instead consult his doctor and that a rabbi is prohibited to make medical decisions based on amulets and his intuitions.
"There are those who tell people, 'Don't get married, because it's not your mazel.' How do they know what is suitable and what is not?" Rabbi Pinto questioned. "How do you know whether the names suit each other or not? What are you, a veterinarian? Because you have a feeling in your heart? Are you checking the kidneys and heart too?'' he added.
He explained, "There are many unsophisticated people in the Jewish nation who have faith in the rabbis and are naïve. Their naïveté makes them susceptible. They are like an egg that breaks if you press a little on the side, but if you press it even hard on top, it will not break. In the same way, faith is a delicate thing. All it takes is a small knock to break a person's faith.”
"You have to be careful when giving advice to people," he said, "Are you a doctor or a rabbi? How do you know to tell people whether to have surgery or not? How do you know if it's good or not? We always send our students to the doctors and tell them to consult with them.
"You can give a blessing, but by what right can you tell a person not to have an operation? Are you willing to take upon yourself endangering his life? What are you, the holy Baal Shem Tov?'
The rabbi explained that today there are no people who are experts in writing amulets. The Baba Sali used to send people to the tzaddik who lived in Beit Shean, claiming that he was the last expert in the generation to make amulets.
Watch the full words of Rabbi Pinto.
This article was written in cooperation with Shuva Israel