Is It Permissible to Flip a Coin?

Hello. When something bothers me, I look for "signs" - for example, I flip a coin and choose based on the outcome... I'm practically addicted to this and do it all day, and I'm unsure if this is permissible according to the Torah...Thank you, Yehudit

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Hello Yehudit,

Many seek guidance and logic in their lives and turn to signs even when they aren't there, or they believe in signs that others have created to predict a future hidden from us. Undoubtedly, we should find the hand of divine providence in our lives, but just as we are forbidden from eating all types of foods, distinguishing between kosher and non-kosher meat, so too there is belief that is permissible and belief that is forbidden and harmful to us.

The belief that Hashem oversees our every action and directs everything for our good is the best and truest way to live, and even when delays or difficulties arise, we should believe that every delay is for the best, and even what seems bad now is ultimately for our benefit. This is the Jewish faith we should hold onto—that our lives are orchestrated by the Creator of the World even in the smallest of matters, much more so in larger ones. Our sages taught us that even when a person looks for money in his wallet and mistakenly pulls out the wrong amount, such a minor incident is ordained from heaven as a rectification for his soul, and everything is intended for his good, even if he cannot see the reason.

However, the belief that we can predict what we should do based on illogical external signs is a forbidden belief in Judaism and reflects a lack of faith in the direct and benevolent providence of the Creator in our lives. A person who trusts in the Creator to do everything for his own good does not need to rely on signs. We already have a Father in Heaven guiding everything for our good. See the story of Joseph the Righteous, who was imprisoned and sold as a slave in Egypt, and it all ultimately turned to his greatest good because he trusted in Hashem with innocence and did not try to direct his own life by signs—he trusted that Hashem would put the right words in his mouth and guide his actions in the best way.

I'm sorry to tell you this, but your actions show a lack of faith in Hashem and His personal guidance in your life. Anyone who believes that everything Hashem does is for the good, trusts Him wholeheartedly and doesn't speculate about what hasn't been expressly told. Whatever Hashem wants you to know, you know. Whatever He doesn't—you're not supposed to know at this time. Remember, our uniqueness over all nations is precisely that we rely on Hashem for all matters, and not on fortune-tellers, horse-shoes, or black cats. We only have Hashem, our God, and He is wholly and absolutely one; everything comes from Him.

Our sacred Torah provides guidance in life (Deuteronomy 18:13): "You shall be whole-hearted with the Lord, your God," and Rashi explains: "Walk with Him wholeheartedly, hope for Him and do not delve into the future, rather everything that comes upon you, accept wholeheartedly, and then you will be with Him and to His portion."

Maimonides explained that the Torah forbids Jews from predicting their future or managing their actions based on signs and divinations. In "Mishneh Torah," The Laws of Idolatry (Chapter 11, 4), he writes:

"Do not divine as the idolaters do, as it is written "You shall not divine"—how is divination done: those who say since my bread dropped from my mouth, or my staff fell from my hand, I will not go to such a place today, for if I go, my business will not be accomplished; because a fox passed to my right, I will not leave the entrance of my house today, for if I go out, a deceitful man will meet me. Those who hear bird chirps and say it will be so, or it will not be so, it's good to do this or bad to do that."

Further, Maimonides explains that the Torah forbids visiting all those who "predict future," including card readers and coffee cup readers. The Torah forbids this to ensure we do not fall into believing the deceit of those charlatans using trickery and powers of impurity but first and foremost to show our complete faith in Hashem, who guides and directs us, revealing what we need to know and hiding from us what we do not need to know at this time—all for our personal benefit! As the Torah teaches us (Deuteronomy 29:28): "The hidden things belong to Hashem, our God, but the revealed things are for us and our children forever, to do all the words of this Torah." But do not feel you are missing anything by this, God forbid. Know that all your investigations are futile anyway because our sages have said that Jews are above fortune (Shabbat 156a): "There is no fortune for Israel [meaning Israel is not subject to constellations and fortunes]." From where do we know there is no fortune for Israel? As it says, Thus says the Lord: "Do not learn the way of the nations, and do not be frightened by the signs of the heavens because the nations are frightened by them, but not Israel."

Even if a fortune-teller could tell you your future, it would still not be your true future because you are Jewish and have the power to change your fortune constantly through actions, prayers, and positive resolutions.

You certainly know that even charity can deliver one from a death sentence! Thus, our sages said that even if a sharp sword rests upon a person's neck, he should not despair. And so, we increase our prayer, charity, and repentance during Rosh Hashanah because they determine our true future and what will happen to us, not fate or fortune.

As someone interested in psychology, I would like to tell you that your difficulty in stopping these acts arises from a bad habit you acquired. However, based on what you wrote, I would be more concerned that it stems from an obsession developed due to a lack of self-confidence. You seek control in your life and fear that if you don't act according to signs, you will fail, God forbid, as if you do not have a Father in Heaven guiding and assisting you in every situation.

Psychology calls this phenomenon OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), often associated with "cleanliness issues" and perfectionism, and even with people who must repeatedly check if they locked the door. Try to investigate your past and see what began the lack of self-confidence that caused you to live your daily life according to irrational signs. You need to understand where this comes from to free yourself from the feeling that it's real. There are young men who, out of obsession, will repeat the words of prayer over and over again out of fear that they made a mistake in a word or intention and will be punished, as if Hashem expects them to be angels and doesn't, God forbid, understand their human soul like a human being. People who constantly seek signs in their lives behave as if Hashem expects them to be prophets or fortune-tellers and think He will, God forbid, cause them to fail if they don't engage in rituals of signs and precision in every small detail.

The Steipler in his book "Krayna D'Iggarta" (Letter 376) addresses this phenomenon and writes that those who suffer from this problem need to be lenient with themselves and not pay attention to the small details but only follow the main rule to stop living in fear. So, I suppose that the method to stop is actually breaking the endless cycle of foundling, and decide you'll stop suddenly observing something that is considered very important or significant to you. You will eventually see that life continues, and thus your fear will cease, and then you will be able, please God, to live your life in the best and most beneficial way according to our sacred Torah. Good luck!"