"You know from the repeated declarations in the Law that the principal purpose of the whole Law was the removal and utter destruction of idolatry, and all that is connected therewith, even its name, and everything that might lead to any such practices, e.g., acting as a consulter with familiar spirits, or as a wizard, passing children through the fire, divining, observing the clouds, enchanting, charming, or inquiring of the dead. The law prohibits us to imitate the heathen in any of these deeds, and a fortiori to adopt them entirely. It is distinctly said in the Law that everything which idolaters consider as service to their gods, and a means of approaching them, is rejected and despised by God... Thus all precepts cautioning against idolatry, or against that which is connected therewith, leads to it, or is related to it, are evidently useful."
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Maimonides
Moshe ben Maimon (Hebrew: ืจืื ืืฉื ืื ืืืืืื; Arabic: ู ูุณู ุจู ู ูู ูู ุจู ุนุจุฏ ุงููู ุงููุฑุทุจู ุงูุฅุณุฑุงุฆููู / Mussa bin Maimun ibn Abdallah al-Kurtubi al-Israili; 1135 or 1138 โ 12 December 1204), commonly known as Moses Maimonides, was a Jewish rabbi, physician, and philosopher. He was born in Spain, but spent most of his life in Egypt. His works ranged from a commentary on the Mishnah to his Code of Law (summarising the whole of Jewish law) and the philosophical work, the Guide for the Perplexed.
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