Q&A: Jewish Astrology
Jewish Astrology
Question
Shavua tov, Rabbi.
I do think I can guess the answer, but still I’d like to ask…
Recently I came across lectures on the subject of Jewish astrology given by a Chabad woman.
She gives training courses on the topic, including preparing astrological charts…
As far as I know, and without having delved deeply into her content, it’s a pile of nonsense….
What is the Rabbi’s opinion on the subject?
Is there some known tradition on these matters? Or has some new revelation from Heaven appeared in recent years for a select few?
Answer
You guessed correctly. As far as I understand, it’s all nonsense.
Discussion on Answer
That is certainly true. But I also claim that there is none at all.
Rabbi, in Sefer Yetzirah, which is attributed to Abraham our Patriarch, there are descriptions about the zodiac signs. Even if it is not attributed to Abraham our Patriarch, I believe it is attributed to members of our people. Are you familiar with this, and if not, I’d be glad to hear your response.
Is there a question here?
When you write that it’s all nonsense, do you mean that you do not believe in it at all, even though you accept that there are sources regarded as Jewish that mention these topics?
I’ll add this to make things clear: obviously, even if there are Jewish sources that wrote about this, that does not mean you are forced to believe them. But if you know of and are aware of these sources, what exactly is your attitude toward them? And if you think it’s all nonsense, including what is written in Sefer Yetzirah about the zodiac signs, I’d be interested in getting an answer.
If the mother of those sources is Jewish, then they are Jewish sources, of course.
There is no point discussing a source in general terms. Each claim should be considered on its own merits.
I would say, according to the Rabbi’s approach, that there is no such thing as “Jewish astrology.” Either there is universal astrology, or there is no astrology at all.