Judaism on Signs, Superstition, and Faith in God’s Providence

Judith asks: "When an issue troubles me, I look for “signs”. For example, I flip a coin, and depending on which side lands, I take that as my answer. I’ve already become addicted to this practice and do it all day long, but I don’t know if it’s permitted according to the Torah."

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Dear Judith,

Many people seek guidance and meaning in their lives, and so they search for signs even where none exist, or they believe in omens invented by non-Jews to predict the future that has been hidden from us. There is no doubt that we must find God’s personal providence in our lives, but just as not every kind of food is permitted, so too there is faith that is true and permitted, and faith that is false and harmful.

The true and best faith is to believe that God watches over all our deeds and directs everything for our ultimate good. Even when delays or obstacles arise, one must trust that every delay is for the good, and that even what seems bad now is in fact intended for our benefit. Faith provides us with the understanding that our lives are directed by the Creator of the world, in the smallest details and all the more so in the greatest ones. Our sages even taught that if a person reaches into his purse and takes out the wrong coin, this too was arranged from Heaven as a rectification for his soul. Everything is for his good, even if he cannot see the reason.

The belief that one can decide what to do or not to do based on external, irrational signs is a false belief in Judaism. In fact, it reflects a lack of faith in God’s close and benevolent guidance. A person who truly trusts God does not need to rely on invented signs, because he already has a Father in Heaven directing everything for his good. Look at the story of Joseph the Righteous, sold into slavery by his brothers and imprisoned in Egypt, yet all ultimately turned to his greatest benefit. He relied on God with simplicity, not on signs of his own invention, and trusted God to place the right words in his mouth and guide his actions to the best path.

The practices you describe reflect a weakness of faith in God and His providence in your life. One who believes that God does everything for his good trusts Him simply, without trying to divine what has not been revealed. What God wanted you to know, you know; what He did not want you to know, you do not need to. Our uniqueness among the nations is precisely that we rely on God, not on fortune tellers, omens, horsehoes, or black cats. We have only the one true God, and everything comes from Him.

Our holy Torah guides us clearly (Deuteronomy 18:13): “Be wholehearted with the Lord your God.” Rashi explains: “Walk with Him in simplicity. Trust in Him, and do not investigate the future. Whatever comes upon you, accept with simplicity — then you will be with Him and belong to Him.”

Maimonides explains that the Torah forbids a Jew to divine his future through omens and signs. In Mishneh Torah (Laws of Idolatry 11:4) he writes: “One may not practice divination like the idolaters, as it is written: ‘You shall not divine’. What is divination? For example, one who says: ‘Since my bread fell from my mouth, or my staff dropped from my hand, I will not travel to such-and-such place today, for if I do, my plans will fail’; or: ‘Since a fox passed on my right side, I will not leave my house today, for if I do, I will meet a swindler.’ Likewise, those who hear the chirping of birds and say: ‘It will be thus, it will not be thus; it is good to do such-and-such, bad to do such-and-such.’”

Maimonides explains further that the Torah also forbids approaching fortune-tellers of any kind, such as those who read cards, coffee grounds, or any such methods. The Torah prohibits these not only so we won’t be deceived by charlatans using trickery or impure forces, but first and foremost because true faith means trusting God alone to reveal what we need to know and conceal what we do not need to know, for our own good. As the Torah teaches (Deut. 29:28): “The hidden things belong to the Lord our God, and the revealed things belong to us and to our children forever, to fulfill all the words of this Torah.”

Do not think you are losing out by avoiding such practices. They are worthless anyway. The Talmudic Sages said (Shabbat 156a): “There is no mazal (astrological fate) for Israel.” We are not bound by omens or zodiac signs, as it says: “Do not learn the way of the nations, and do not fear the signs of the heavens, for the nations fear them — but Israel does not.”

Even if a fortune-teller could reveal something about your future, it would still not be your true future, because as a Jew you always have the power to change your destiny through your deeds, prayers, and commitments. Charity itself can save from a decree of death! Our Sages said that even if a sharp sword rests upon a person’s neck, he must never despair. This is why on Rosh Hashanah we increase prayer, charity, and repentance, because these alone determine our true future, not fate or luck.

From a psychological perspective, your difficulty in stopping may come from a bad habit, but it could also be a sign of obsessive tendencies (OCD). This is often seen in perfectionists or those with “compulsions,” such as repeatedly checking locks or repeating prayers out of fear of mistakes. In your case, it seems rooted in insecurity and lack of trust. You are seeking control over your life and fear that if you don’t act according to signs, you will fail — as if you had no Father in Heaven guiding you and helping you in every situation.

The Steipler Gaon, in his letters addressed this issue and advised that such people must deliberately stop fixating on minor details and instead follow only the essential requirements of the law — otherwise they will live in fear. The way to break this cycle is to choose one thing you normally obsess over, stop checking it, and you’ll see that life continues. This breaks the illusion and gradually frees you from fear.

In this way, with God’s help, you can learn to live with true faith, peace of mind, and confidence in the Torah’s path.

Good luck!