The Evil Eye in Judaism: What It Is, How It Works, and 10 Ways to Protect Yourself

Our Sages teach that a person should avoid doing things that draw attention to himself. For example, when Yaakov sent his sons to Egypt during the famine, he told them to enter through separate gates so that ten strong men together would not attract the Evil Eye.

What exactly is the Evil Eye (Ayin Hara), and how can one protect against it?

1. The Evil Eye Is a Real Concept in Judaism

According to Jewish teachings, God governs the world through two primary attributes of justice (din) and mercy (rachamim). Justice demands that every deed be repaid precisely — reward for good actions and punishment for sins. Mercy, on the other hand, delays punishment to allow a person time to repent.

The Evil Eye is one of the forces that can awaken the attribute of justice. When it is activated, mercy withdraws, and the consequences of a person’s unresolved sins may manifest. Thus, the Evil Eye is not the cause of punishment, but the trigger that removes divine protection.

2. Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler’s Explanation

In Michtav Me’Eliyahu, Rabbi Dessler explains that envy itself can cause spiritual and emotional harm. When a person envies another, he diminishes the divine flow of goodness to that person, which can lead to damage or misfortune — not through magic, but through the power of negative energy and jealousy.

3. Guarding Against Envy

The Talmud instructs us to avoid feeling envy — both to protect others and to protect ourselves.We are also taught not to provoke jealousy in others through pride, boasting, or displays of success.

4. Avoiding Harmful Attention

The Gemara says: “A person may not stand in his fellow’s field when it is full of produce.” (Bava Batra 2b)

Simply looking at another person’s possessions with envy can cause damage — a concept known as Hezek Re’iyah (harm caused by the gaze).

5. The Power of Modesty and Privacy

To avoid attracting the Evil Eye, one should live modestly and avoid flaunting blessings — whether wealth, success, or family joy.
As our Sages say: “Blessing dwells only on that which is hidden from the eye.” (Taanit 8b)

6. The Best Protection — A Good Eye

Looking at others with a good eye — with kindness and happiness for their success, protects us from the Evil Eye. As it says in Mishlei (22:9): “He who has a good eye will be blessed.”

7. Don’t Obsess Over It

The Sages warn not to become overly anxious about the Evil Eye.
Those who constantly worry about it, ironically, become more vulnerable to it.

8. A Balanced Approach

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein taught that one should be realistic: If something is normal — such as a young woman becoming pregnant, there’s no need to fear the Evil Eye. Only in unusual circumstances, he said, may it be relevant to be cautious.

9. A Talmudic Protective Practice

The Talmud mentions a symbolic act of protection: Place the right thumb over the left thumb and say: “I am from the seed of Yosef, over whom the Evil Eye has no power.” (Joseph is considered spiritually immune to the Evil Eye, as it says, “Joseph is a fruitful vine by a spring — his branches run over the wall.”)

10. When to Seek Help

If someone feels strongly affected by the Evil Eye, they may consult a trusted, knowledgeable rabbi. Kabbalistic traditions include practices such as lead pouring for removing negative energy — but these should only be done by recognized, authentic Torah scholars, not by self-proclaimed mystics.

“May it be Your will, Hashem our God, that no person’s envy rise against us, nor our envy against others… and may You save us from the Evil Eye.”