Eine Hexe, die [eine tatsächliche] Tat vollbringt, ist [der Steinigung] unterworfen, aber nicht eine, die "die Augen täuscht" [dh eine, die den Eindruck erweckt, dass eine Handlung ausgeführt wird, wenn nichts getan wird.] R. Akiva sagt im Namen von R. Yehoshua: Zwei Gurken [durch Hexerei vor uns]. Einer pickt und haftet nicht [für den Tod (durch Steinigung)], der andere pickt und haftet. [Wie so?] Derjenige, der eine Handlung ausführt [dh derjenige, der sie tatsächlich durch Hexerei auswählt], haftet. Derjenige, der "die Augen täuscht" [dh der den Eindruck erweckt, dass sie an einem Ort versammelt sind, wenn sie überhaupt nicht bewegt werden], haftet nicht.
Bartenura on Mishnah Sanhedrin
העושה מעשה – an actual [deed], [is punished] by stoning.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sanhedrin
Introduction
Mishnah eleven deals with different forms of sorcery.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sanhedrin
ולא האוחז את העינים – shows to other creatures as if he is doing, but is not actually doing anything.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sanhedrin
A sorcerer, if he actually performs magic, is liable [to death], but not if he merely creates illusions. Rabbi Akiva says in Rabbi Joshua's name: “If two are gathering cucumbers [by magic] one may be punished and the other exempt: he who really gathers them is punished: while he who produces an illusion is exempt.” When the mishnah stated that a sorcerer is liable to be stoned, it meant one who actually performs magic, but not one who creates illusions. [Therefore, modern magicians who use illusions are not obligated for the death penalty]. Rabbi Akiva in the name of Rabbi Joshua illustrates this principle by mentioning a form of magic that must have been at least somewhat known in the time of the mishnah, something like pulling a rabbit out of a hat in our days.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sanhedrin
שנים לוקטים קשואים – through witchcraft in our presence. One of them harvested and is liable for the death penalty, and his fellow harvested and is exempt from death. How so? He wo performed the deed of harvesting actually through witchcraft, is liable. האוחז את העינים – he showed us as if they were all gathered together in one place and the cucumbers did not move from their places. פטור – [exempt] from the death penalty.
