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Shalom
Do you believe in the evil eye ?
If so, how do you protect yourself from it and what says the Scriptures about it
Thank you
The evil eye seems to be more on the folk side of religion, including Judaism, and less on the formal side.
Much of it is cultural. For example middle eastern Jews may use similar protections to what Muslims use. Things like Hamsa. Some wear a red string on their wrist (something which was popularized by the modern Kabbalah movement). Some people are careful about what they say as to avoid the evil eye, for example not speaking about success prematurely and ending sentences with saying 'bli ayin hara' which translates literally to 'without the evil eye'.
In the scripture itself we can find proverbs like this:
"Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainties; For as one that hath reckoned within himself, so is he: 'Eat and drink', saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee."
(Proverbs 23:6-7)
"He that hath an evil eye hasteneth after riches, and knoweth not that want shall come upon him"
(Proverbs 28:22)
Personally I don't believe in the evil eye, but it has been running in the Moroccan side of my family, they do carry cultural beliefs about such things that are distinct, but I doubt they take it as seriously as the generation of my grandparents.
Despite not believing in it personally, I do appreciate a decorative Hamsa, or a decorative Mezuzah (if it can be counted as a repellent of the evil eye).
I don't know that I believe in the Evil Eye per se. But malign influences from people who wish one ill...sure, I could see that, in some sense.
What I do to protect myself, to the degree I even believe there is something from which I might need protection, is just to try and draw toward myself and my house more of the divine energy that flows through the universe. I do this by making my house a place of Torah study and prayer, and by reciting brachot (benedictions) through the day, whenever appropriate, and by trying to observe the commandments as best I can.
But I also have a few hamsas hanging up in my house, and a mizrach (decorative indicator of which way is east, so I know which way to face during prayer) that's kind of protective. Maybe I just like the aesthetics....
Do you believe in the evil eye ?
Not in the least.Do you believe in the evil eye ?
Shalom
Do you believe in the evil eye ?