The Evil Eye? It's Not So Bad

The evil eye, or "ayin hara" in modern jargon, is not the most convincing part of Judaism; many find the topic primitive, mystical, and mostly illogical. Some say: If there is a Creator of the world and a system of reward and punishment, how can it be that just because my new car didn't sit well with my neighbor, her evil eye could harm me? Why should it affect me? Well, we set out to investigate.

According to Judaism, the evil eye exists, but misunderstanding it undermines its essence. The issue of the evil eye is known to be complex, but that doesn't mean you constantly need to knock on wood or live in fear of a mysterious force, thinking there's chaos in the world or that the concept of reward and punishment is overridden by these evil forces.

"The Talmud states that 99% of people die prematurely due to the evil eye," Rabbi Pinchas Badush begins, "and therefore, the sages explicitly say that a person must not do things that attract attention. Take, for example, Jacob our patriarch; when he sent his sons to Egypt during the famine, he asked them to enter through separate gates. Why? Because their presence was a formidable power that could attract the evil eye."

"The Talmud also says that a person should not look at his neighbor's field before the harvest. It is also noted that if you buy food, it's better not to take it from a central place like the display window because the gazes of passers-by can cause damage. Additionally, it is mentioned that 'blessing only rests on something hidden from the eye,' reinforcing the idea that one should act modestly so that their plans aren't harmed."
How to Keep the Evil Eye Away?
"In the Book of Proverbs, it says 'One with a good eye will be blessed.' In other words, if a person has a good eye on the possessions or children of a friend, he is more protected from the evil eye of others. Generally speaking, it's better not to stand out too much and to have a good eye toward the environment. There are various ways to escape the evil eye, like reciting certain verses from Psalms. But beyond that, the sages argued that one shouldn't worry too much about the issue, because the more one worries, the more they are exposed to the evil eye. The purpose was not to poke eyes, to act modestly, and not to be too fanatic. Some people take the matter very seriously, but we shouldn't lose proportion.

"In certain cases where a person feels they are affected by the evil eye, they can turn to real, qualified, and serious rabbis who are experts in removing the evil eye. Kabbalah offers various methods for removing the evil eye, such as using lead, but this is only done in serious cases and, as mentioned, only with recognized rabbis—not with various mystics," he adds.

If you're concerned about the evil eye and among those who dig into the topic, Rabbi Yiftach Sofer recommends protection from it with the Talmud's advice: Place the right thumb on the left thumb and say, "I come from the seed of Joseph, upon whom the evil eye has no power." "The Talmud presents this expression in Aramaic, but it can also be said in Hebrew," he explains.

Are Some People More Vulnerable?

"When the evil eye affects a person, usually they brought it upon themselves. After all, who does the evil eye mostly affect? People who draw attention, who have a standout advantage over others, and boast about it. If someone buys a simple car that doesn't draw special attention, the likelihood of someone casting an evil eye on them is low. This also applies if they have acquired a fancy car but do not attach much importance to it. The evil eye could affect someone doing something extraordinary when they themselves feel superior and arrogant over others."

Does a Hamsa Really Help in Such Cases?
"A hamsa doesn't hurt. But on its own, it won't have much impact. If a person learns to restrain their pride, sees things with a good eye, and delves into the Torah, they will be much more protected."