by the early
Kabbalists, but the later ones allow it. They believe that all souls were
created in Adam, and therefore partake of his fall. Every kind of
philosophy known at the time of its compilation is more or less introduced
into the Talmud, and all more or less tinged with Magian superstition.
From this superstition grew the mysticism of the Jewish schools. All the
arts and sciences, under some form or other, are alluded to, and
references to historical events abound in its pages. When it is dangerous
to speak of them openly they are veiled under some figure known only to
the initiated. Some observations seem to anticipate future discoveries.
The Antipodes are hinted at. And the Jerusalem Gemara says that Alexander
the Great was represented as carrying a ball in his hand because he
believed the figure of the earth to be a sphere. Astronomy is fully
discussed. The planets are "moving stars." Mercury is "the star"; Venus,
"splendor"; Mars, "redness"; Jupiter, "rightness"; Saturn, "the Sabbath
star." The signs of the Zodiac have the same names as are now used. The
Galaxy is "the river of light." Comets are "burning arrows." And it is
said that when a comet passes through Orion it will destroy the world. A
certain Ishmaelite merchant is related to have invited Rabba to come and
see where the heavens and the earth touched. Rabba took his bread basket
and placed it on the window while he prayed. He afterward looked for it,
but it was gone. He asked the Ishmaelite, "Are there thieves here?" "No,"
he replied, "but your basket has gone up in the revolving of the
firmament. It will return if you wait till morning when the revolving of
the firmament returns where it was before."

Astrology is treated as a science which governs the life of man. The stars
make men wise. The stars make them rich. "A man born on the first day of
the week will excel in only one quality. He that is born on the second day
will be an angry man, because on that day the waters were divided. He that
is born on the third day of the week will be rich and licentious, because
on it the herbs were created. He that is born on the fourth day will be
wise and of good memory, because on that day the lights were hung up. He
that is born on the fifth day will be charitable, because on that day the
fishes and fowls were created. He that is born on the Sabbath, on the
Sabbath he also shall die, because on his account they profaned the great
Sabbath day." Rabba bar Sh