Parshas Kedoshim

“Do not turn unto the spirits and the familiar spirits, do not seek them out to be defiled by them!” (Vayikra 19:31)

It is a negative commandment that one should not perform the action called Ov and not to turn towards such actions. The action was that they burnt a certain incense and performed certain actions, which led to the person believing that he could hear a voice from under his armpit who could answer whatever he asked. The above is one type of Ov.

Amongst the roots of this commandment are that all of these empty things cause a person to put aside the true doctrine and the true belief in Hashem, and to turn after emptiness. He thinks that everything which happens to him is coincidental, and that he could avoid any harm by asking these questions, whereas in truth it will not help him at all, for all has been preordained by the Creator of the world according to the deeds of the person, be they good or bad. A person should arrange all his thoughts and deeds according to this precept. These are the thoughts of all good members of the Jewish people. Furthermore, in this actions of Ov there is also a connection to idol-worship.

This commandment applies in all places and at all times, to both men and women.

There is also a negative commandment not to perform the action called Yid’oni. This refers to people who take a certain bone from a certain animal, and put it into their mouths, while burning incense, making certain oaths and performing actions, until it predicts the future.

The details of this commandment are the same as those of the previous one.