256. Voldemort: The prohibition against acting as a necromancer

A “yidoni,” which we have translated as “necromancer,” is another type of trickster. This kind of fraud burns incense or recites spells until he appears to fall into a trance. He then shares "hidden knowledge" and predictions.

The reason for this prohibition is the same as the prohibition against acting as a medium: you don’t have special powers and you don’t receive messages from beyond. Making people think you do is deceitful and causes them to stray from authentic ways of getting closer to God.

This mitzvah applies to both men and women in all times and places. Like the prohibition against being a medium, it is discussed in the Talmud in tractate Sanhedrin (65a-b) and codified in the Mishneh Torah in the sixth chapter of Hilchos Avodas Kochavim. It is #9 of the 365 negative mitzvos in the Rambam’s Sefer HaMitzvos and #171 of the 194 negative mitzvos that can be fulfilled today as listed in the Sefer HaMitzvos HaKatzar of the Chofetz Chaim.