Jew AND magic?

[Ripper666]

I'm Christian and I don't really know much about the Jewish religion. But I was asking myself what it means if a Christian uses magic. Is it a sort of heresy? Just remember all those witchs who had been burned in the middle age!

And now to my main question, when Willow as a Jew uses magic, is it a sort of heresy too? Would it mean that she doesn't see her religion as strong as her parents? Just some thoughts...

 

[david4wt]

Magic comes from the devil for Catholic Church and (probably) for the rest of Christians.
Willow wasn't a proper Jew, I think that she recognized the cultural heritage and how it influenced her, so she respected Jewish traditions (putting stones on Tara's gravestone) but didn't believe in it as a religion. She called herself "wiccan" more than once.
I don't know how Jew view magic, but I think like Christians.
Oh, and Jewish religion also have all the Kabbalah thing, but I don't know much about it so maybe someone else can explain.

 

[Astral]

Magic is forbidden in Judaism but as the series progressed I think she abandoned her Jewish roots and took up Wicca as her religion. I don't remember any mention of her being Jewish after she returned from the Wicca coven in England at the beginning of season 7 so I would assume she converted.

 

[SlayerFest]

Willow might not have seen herself as Jewish, in terms of religion, but she still identified as an ethnic Jew. I have friend who is an atheist and she calls herself a Jew all the time haha. She identifies as Jewish because it's who she is, culturally...so maybe Willow felt the same way. I just feel like it's not a contradiction like it would be with Christianity because it's...different.

 

[Mr Giles]

American Jews can use magic ok.

 

[EvilWillow]

I'm a Christian, and I don't believe that magic is the devil. it's not real. It's balderdash and chicanery. 😉

 

[sisterofmercy]

I think there's a distinction between cultural Judaism and religious Judaism- at least that's what I've noticed in literature and the media, so if any actual Jews feel like correcting me then go for it.

I think Willow was religiously a wiccan but culturally maintained some of her Judaism, possibly due to her upbringing.

 

[Username]

I'm Jewish, and my family identifies as Jews but we're not religious(most of us are atheists), like others have said you can just be culturally Jewish it doesn't mean you actually believe in any of that nonsense lol. I think Willow and her parents were probably the same, clinging to old traditions but without any faith.