Q&A: Spirit and Mysticism

What is the evil eye and what does it cause? If you know who is doing it (for example, a sibling that we know is jealous and constantly comparing), what can be done? After all, we don't cut ties with family. Additionally, does the evil eye harm a person imply that this person has sinned or done something wrong? And does the evil eye also affect children and infants who receive compliments for their beauty, etc.?

The "evil eye" has many meanings and explanations. It is clear that it exists and is rooted in many Talmudic and Midrashic sources, to the extent that according to the Talmud (Baba Batra), a person is forbidden from standing in their friend's field when the crop is at its prime, lest they harm the crop with the evil eye. I never fully understood this matter until Hashem enlightened my eyes, and I saw in the book Zera Kodesh by the holy genius of Ropshitz, of blessed memory (Parashat Vayetze) something that brings the concept closer to understanding.

And these are his words: "The evil eye comes from this, when a person sees something beautiful, or a financial success in a friend, or success with children, or in bravery, or in any other achievement, and the observer is impressed by this achievement, even though they are amazed with great love, nevertheless it brings harm to the one with the achievement. The reason is that since Hashem created the person, and He is the one who endowed the attributes with which humans are gifted – if the observer would contemplate with their intellect that all this is from Hashem, they would not be amazed at all by their friend's achievement, for what is there to wonder about the magnitude of Hashem who created the entire world and all that is in it from nothing. Every virtue we see is essentially a praise of Hashem or a resemblance to His wisdom that He bestowed in His image in a human below. When the observer is amazed, for example, by the success of the crop, or the friend's success with children, etc., they forget to attribute everything back to Hashem and say, 'Ah, what wisdom Hashem has given to this person.' Instead, they perceive their friend's achievement as if the friend is the owner of the achievement and greatness, causing it to be separated from its root, from where it truly belongs." And this is the definition of "evil eye".

The correct way when wanting to look at achievements and successes with a good eye is to remember and not forget from whom the achievement comes, and who bestowed it upon this person, and then one will not harm with their gaze at all. In his words, he brings that he heard from an ancient righteous person a remedy for the evil eye to look upwards, and he interprets that the righteous person's intention was that when one lifts their eyes upwards - they remember who brings all the successes, thereby strengthening and connecting the achievements to the root, and the success will grow and increase.

Moreover, there are very great righteous ones who are so connected to the Creator of the world that they are completely nullified to Him and do not feel any personal achievement. These cannot be harmed by the evil eye.

Dear Rabbi, greetings. Recently, I have seen strange things in my home. Late at night, I heard some voices speaking a foreign language, I saw a figure in black clothing smiling and standing by the wall, and I realized it was not from our world. At night, a woman with disheveled white hair came to me and touched me. I couldn't move until I cried out "Shema Yisrael," then she disappeared, and I was freed. There were other such things. I went to a mystic who told me that I have a curse and an evil eye, and that the house is not good for me. Is this true?

Hello and blessings. Consulting mystics will only heighten fears, illusions, hallucinations, and dreams, and will lead to financial loss for you in vain and, of course, financial gain for those fraudulent mystics. If there is no curse, they will invent it to have something to scare you with.

Placing mezuzahs on the doorposts of the house, washing hands in the morning upon rising from sleep, washing hands after using the restroom during the day, observing Shabbat and family purity surround a person with a spiritual shield, so no spirit can harm or frighten.