an envious or begrudging
glance could work evil
upon the person at whom
it was directed. According
to a talmudic statement,
ninety-nine out of a hun-
dred die of an evil eye
(Bava Metzia 107b). Hence
the popular expression
"B'li-Ayin Horeh" (without
a begrudging eye), which is
used when a person's good
health or wealth is being
admired. Mystical amulets
were worn as antidotes
counteracting the evil eye.
Another most interesting
definition is provided in the
"New Jewish Encyclopedia
(Behrman). Its inclusion of
several other aspects of the
term "Ayin Hara" encourages
resort to it. It reads:
"Ayin Hara" — Hebrew
term, also pronounced
"Ayin Horeh," meaning
"evil eye" or, more literally,
the eye of the evil one, i.e.,
the devil. It refers to a
superstition that certain
individuals possess the evil
power to injure others by
looking at them. It is also
believed that even seeing a
person enjoying good
health or being successful,
can have a damaging
effect.
From antiquity to our
own day, all over the world,
people believed that the
glance of the eye can cause
material harm even when
operating at a distance. It
is therefore customary
with Yiddish-speaking
people to say "Kein Ayin
Horeh" (no evil eye) when
referring to someone's
good health, prosperity of
success. People affected by
such superstitions have
resorted to a variety of
remedies for those stricken
with the "evil eye," such as
reading the Bible, wearing
a talisman, and using cer-
tain incantations.
Although still popular
with some Jewish groups,
this superstition has large-
ly disappeared in the more
modern Jewish com-
munities. Our English
word "fascinate" derives
from the Latin phrase
relating to the "evil eye;"
the widespread nature of
such belief may further be
noted from the fact that in
Italian the expression "evil
eye" is contracted into a
single word "malocchio."
Once again, we owe a debt
to. Ronald and Nancy Reagan
for stimulating renewed con-
sideration of the aspects of
soothsaying, with emphasis
on "the Evil Eye," and much
more under the temptation
induced by "Astrology."
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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
43