Must a Jew Abstain from Hermetic Magic? A Psak
This really got away from me, so the psak is divided into three parts. This first part covers the question of whether the Order of Hermes are idolaters. Given the very name “Hermes” Jews will have a reflexive dislike of the Order. Idolatry is one of the core prohibitions of Judaism, one of the few things that you must avoid even at the cost of your own life. It is forbidden not just to engage in idolatry, but also to benefit from others doing so.
Part 1 - Idolatry
Mythically Plausible - This post presents a rabbinic opinion - a psak or responsum - as what relationship an observant Jews should have to Hermetic magic. This opinion is intentionally weighted towards leniency to Hermetic magic, because that’s what makes for an interesting story. But it's not an impossible position, and you can imagine it as a persuasive minority ruling, much like how Rabbi Asher’s opinion on the prayer for rain was not adopted, but is still considered a respected opinion. That said, I am aware of no actual halakhic ruling that rules particularly leniently towards sorcerers.
This post is an in-universe text, but it does not hew too closely to the 13th century style so that it might be understandable to a modern audience. A brief citation to the Mishneh Torah and Maimonides (aka Rambam) is given. Maimonides will get his own post, but for now you just need to know that he is a controversial and poorly understood figure in Northern Europe in 1220. Maimonides views on the supernatural are complex, but he generally does not give much credence to the idea that magic can be real. The author of this psak does not like Maimonides, so he uses the obvious existence of Hermetic magic in Mythic Europe to dunk on Rambam.
A psak often has three parts. The question being asked, often a practical question asked by a member of the community, a discussion of the halachic issues that the question brings up, and finally the answer, the psak proper. We start with the question. The discussion will continue across the three posts.
Question
A certain learned woman, honored in our community, approached me with a question of some import to modern scholars. She asks if the practice of Hermetic magic is to be permitted. And if it is not permitted is the prohibition from the Torah or from rabbinic ruling. Further, she asks if it is permitted to consult with goyim who practice Hermetic magic, and thereby benefit from this sorcery. Again, if it is not permitted she wonders where the origin of this prohibition derives.
Discussion
First, I must speak of the nature of the Hermetic sorcerer. This group is surprisingly widespread in our lands, with dozens of their batei sefer in the lands of the Emperor alone. The Rambam, of blessed memory, has written that magic is “emptiness and vanity,” and by this he means that it has no effect. But that could not be further from the truth, and proof, if any more is needed, that his Mishneh Torah is a book lacking in much merit. I myself have seen this goyish magic produce great effects. And my observations are shared with many learned rabbis of our lands as well as with the brilliant young scholar Moses ben Nachman of Andalusia.
The very name of their Order itself seems to indicate a grave danger for any observant person of our community. If this Order of Hermes is a group of idolaters then we must have no dealings with them - not even to speak with them, let alone benefit from and learn their craft. But I have heard testimony from a Jewish member of this Order, who has said that there is no requirement for idolatry in membership. Not only is an observant Jew a member, but it is reported that some of their members are Muslims. Those of the Islamic faith are not idolaters. Christians are untrustworthy in matters of idolatry, but many of them seek to avoid it, and many of these are members of this Order. Finally, there are those who are idolaters worshiping the false Hermes in the Order, but it is possible to avoid that number and any Jew is obligated to do so.
The Order swears an oath that grants membership. If this oath were sworn in an idolatrous way, or in a way that is a desecration of Hashem’s name, then membership would certainly be forbidden. I have reviewed this oath and am happy to report that there is no mention of any forbidden elements. Like some guild oaths, that are permitted for Jews to swear, the Hermetic Oath charges the wizard’s companions to enforce the oath, not any forbidden idol.
Story Seed - The Idolatrous Mystery Cult
Certain Mystery Cults directly deal with matters of idolatry. Hermetic Theurgy calls on daimons, many of whom claim to be gods, and Hermetic Sacrifice is powered by animal sacrifice, on the model of ancient Roman cults, to name two examples. A Jewish magus may feel comfortable in the Order of Hermes, until he is presented with evidence of such a Mystery Cult. A hermetic maga who is an ally of the covenant is discovered to be part of such a Mystery Cult. How will the Jewish magi of the covenant react? Can the ally be persuaded that her behavior in the cult is idolatrous, and does she even care? Will the covenant lose a political ally over the issue?