Kabbalah (Mysticism)
Astrology in Jewish Tradition
INTRODUCTION:
The relationship between Judaism and Astrology can be complex. On the one hand, the study of planets, constellations, astrology, and horoscopes were seen as outside the realm of Judaism and not something to learn about. On the other, it’s obvious from its inclusion in Talmudic sources that there were study and fascination with it.
| Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 156a:12 |
| It was stated that Rabbi Ḥanina says: A constellation makes one wise and a constellation makes one wealthy, and there is a constellation for the Jewish people that influences them. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: There is no constellation for the Jewish people that influences them. The Jewish people are not subject to the influence of astrology. And Rabbi Yoḥanan follows his own reasoning, as Rabbi Yoḥanan said: From where is it derived that there is no constellation for the Jewish people? As it is stated: “Thus said the Lord: Learn not the way of the nations, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the nations are dismayed at them” (Jeremiah 10:2). The nations will be dismayed by them, but not the Jewish people. |
- Are you a skeptic or a believer?
- Do you think that astrology is outside the realm of Judaism?
Is your personality determined by the day of the week on which you were born?
| Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 156a: 9,10 |
| One who was born on the second day of the week, Monday, will be a short-tempered person. What is the reason for this? It is because on that day, the second day of Creation, the upper and lower waters were divided. Therefore, it is a day of contentiousness. One who was born on the third day of the week will be a rich person and a promiscuous person. What is the reason for this? It is because on that day, the third day, vegetation was created. It grows abundantly but is also mixed together without boundaries between the grass and the plants. One who was born on the fourth day of the week will be a wise and enlightened person. What is the reason for this? It is because the heavenly lights were hung in the heavens on that day, and wisdom is likened to light. One who was born on the fifth day of the week will be a person who performs acts of kindness. What is the reason for this? It is because on that day fish and fowl were created, and they do not receive their sustenance by performing work for people. They are sustained by the kindness of God alone. One who was born on the sixth day of the week will be a seeker. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said that this means that they will be one who seeks out mitzvot, as most of the activity on Friday involves preparation for Shabbat. One who was born on Shabbat will die on Shabbat, because they desecrated the great day of Shabbat on their behalf. Rava bar Rav Sheila said: And he will be called a person of great sanctity because he was born on the sacred day of Shabbat. |
- Do you believe that your personality is influenced by when you were born?
The Talmud talks about 12 constellations that were created. These are later connected to the 12 Tribes.
| Babylonian Talmud, Berachot 32b:16 |
| The Holy One, Blessed be God, said to Israel: My daughter, I created twelve constellations in the firmament, and for each and every constellation I have created thirty armies, and for each and every army I have created thirty legions [ligyon], and for each and every legion I have created thirty infantry division leaders [rahaton], and for each and every infantry division leader I have created thirty military camp leaders [karton], and for each and every military camp leader I have created thirty leaders of forts [gastera], and on each and every leader of a fort I have hung three hundred and sixty-five thousand stars corresponding to the days of the solar year. And all of them I have created only for your sake; and you said the Lord has forsaken me and the Lord has forgotten me? |
In Jewish mysticism, the 12 constellations linked to the 12 tribes are also linked with birth months and zodiac signs, which is then attributed to the 12 parts of a person and what kind of leader one might be.
| Sefer Yitzirah, 5:1-2. |
| Twelve Simple Letters, Heh-Waw Zayin-Chet Tet-Yod Lamed-Nun ʽAyin-Samekh Tzadi-Qof—He carved them, hewed them, weighed them, exchanged them, transformed them, and formed with them the Twelve Constellations in the World. A cipher: Teshat Seʼav Meʽaq Gedad. And these are the Twelve Months in the Year: Nisan, Iyyar, Siwan, Tammuz, Av, Elul, Tishri, Marcheshwan, Kislew, Tevet, Shevat, Adar. And these are the Twelve Leaders in the Person: two hands, two legs, two kidneys, spleen, liver, gall, rumen, abomasum, craw. Like what did God make them? (A city) [strife]. And like what did God arrange them? War. God made them as this one compared with that one. How did God combine them? God made the letter Heh reign, and bound to it a crown, and formed with it Aries in the World, and Nisan in the year, and the right hand in the Person, male and female. God made the letter Waw reign, and bound to it a crown, and formed with it Taurus in the World, and Iyyar in the Year, and the left hand in the Person. God made the letter Zayin reign, bound to it a crown, and formed with it Gemini in the World, and Siwan in the year, and the right leg in the Person. God made the letter Chet reign, and bound to it a crown, and formed with it Cancer in the World, and Tammuz in the year, and the left leg in the Person. God made the letter Tet reign, and bound to it a crown, and formed with it Leo in the World, and Av in the Year, and the the right kidney in the Person. God made the letter Yod reign, and bound to it a crown, and formed with it Virgo in the World, and Elul in the Year, and the left kidney in the Person. God made the letter Lamed reign, and bound to it a crown, and formed with it Libra in the World, and Tishri in the Year, and the liver in the Person. God made the letter Nun reign, and bound to it a crown, and formed with it Scorpio in the World, and Marcheshwan in the Year, and the spleen in the Person. God made the Samekh reign, and bound to it a crown, and formed with it Sagittarius in the World, and Kislew in the year, and the gall in the Person. God made the letter ʽAyin reign, and bound to it a crown, and formed with it Capricorn in the World, and Tevet in the Year, and the rumen in the Person. He made the letter Tzadi reign, and bound to it a crown, and formed with it Aquarius in the World, and Shevat in the Year, and the abomasum in the Person. God made the letter Qof reign, and bound to it a crown, and formed with it Pisces in the World, and Adar in the Year, and the craw in the Person. |
- What does your sign say about the part of the body it corresponds with? Is that generally the part of the body from which you derive your strength?
How much do you trust your horoscope? Do you believe in fate?
| Babylonian Talmud, Moed Katan 28a |
| In the house of Rav Ḥisda there was bread from the finest flour [semida] even for the dogs, and it was not asked after, as there was so much food. In the house of Rabba, on the other hand, there was coarse barley bread even for people, and it was not found in sufficient quantities. This shows that the length of life, children, and sustenance all depend not upon one’s merit, but upon fate. |
- How much is in your control and how much is determined by destiny? What do you think?
Maimonides is not all about acting because your horoscope tells you to…
| Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Foreign Worship and Customs of the Nations 11:9 |
| It is forbidden to tell fortunes. [This applies] even though one does not perform a deed, but merely relates the falsehoods which the fools consider to be words of truth and wisdom. Anyone who performs a deed because of an astrological calculation or arranges their work or journeys to fit a time that was suggested by the astrologers is [liable for] lashes, as [Leviticus 19:26] states: “Do not tell fortunes.” Also included in the scope of this prohibition is one who performs magic tricks and deludes those who observe them into thinking that they performs wonders although they are not doing so. That one is [liable for] lashes. |
- Does this impact how you feel about horoscopes or astrology?
FURTHER READING:
