Rashi explains that the incantation she voiced was the name of a certain power of impurity, and that the incantation they uttered in return was the name of a pure power. The Besht questioned, ‘It makes sense that the Talmud did not say explicitly what this woman uttered, since it was an impure name, but why not tell us what the rabbis said, so that we would know the incantation to recite in order to counteract witchcraft? After all, there are several pages in the Talmudic tractate Gittin devoted to incantations for various maladies.'
The Besht's answer was that witchcraft is nullified by pronouncing the verse ‘You shall not allow a witch to live' [Ex. 22:17], having in mind its hidden meanings. He then proceeded to expound on the mysteries of this verse, and said that through these meditations any type of witchcraft in the world can be counteracted.
He then said that Rabbi Chiya and Rabba bar Rabbi Huna also used this verse and these meditations to thwart the witchcraft. Thus, when the Talmud states that ‘she uttered an incantation,' it means a name of an impure power. The Talmud seems not to specify what they said because the correct text is not ‘they uttered an incantation ["milta"mem-lamed-tof-alef],' but ‘they uttered milat'- without the alef at the end of the word-which is the initials of this very verse: Mechasheifa lo techaye, ‘You shall not allow a witch to live.'
After we heard this, we went to great lengths to find ancient copies of the Talmud. Eventually we found a very old one, from the earliest days of printing. Sure enough, the Besht's words were borne out: her ‘incantation' was printed with an alef, while their ‘incantation' was without one, but with the two lines ["] between the last two letters indicating that it is to be read as an abbreviation. Thus we were privileged to see that his words of Torah are those of the Torah of Moses from Sinai!
So, do not do this evil any more of belittling this holy and awesome man, who is the prince of the Torah. For the Torah of Truth was in his mouth, and he caused many to return from sin, for he was an angel of the L-rd of Hosts!
Translated-adapted by Yrachmiel Tilles for the Ascent Weekly, www.ascent.org.il
