Magic in Halacha
According to the Malbim there was a fundamental difference between what Aharon did with his staff and what the חרטומים did; they didn't make their staffs into snakes, they dressed up like snakes so quickly that it looked like they made snakes.
Is one permitted to perform a magic trick? What about doing a trick that is just a sleight of hand ("אחיזת עיניים")? What is the difference between מעונן and כישוף?
The Rambam and the Bach's explanation of מעונן and מכשף and why they are prohibited.
Rav Moshe Feinstein on performing magic tricks.
Shiur provided courtesy of Torah Anytime