Battling The Evil Eye JEWISH SUPERSTITION from page 12 PATRONS OF SOCIAL PROGRESS - II Even in today's more tolerant climate there lingers among many successful Jews in commerce and industry the vestige of a self-protective ghetto tradition: intimacy and trust largely confined to the immediate family. Such a historic alliance built the international fortune and power of the fabled Rothschilds. Yet another tradition stressed charitable giving, a ritual for the family of AMOCO founder Louis Blaustein whose son Jacob also helped frame the UN Charter's human rights provisions. Nathan Cummings, originator of the world-famed Sara Lee cheesecake, joined his three children in forming a foundation generously supporting art museums and health care programs. Sales in nearly 3,000 Rite Aid pharmacies contribute to the civic causes of company founder Alex Grass and his family. Jack and Pearl Resnick, whose real estate ventures helped shape New York's skyline, led in funding the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. And major donations by Morton Mandel and his brothers who pilot industry's chief source for unique electronic parts, enrich educational systems in the U.S. and Israel. Others : EUGENE MEYER (1875-1959) b. Los Angeles, CA Banker, Pub- lisher and Government Official Entering t financial world with a gift of $600 from his father, the Yale graduate cleverly invested in securities that appreciated to $50,000 with which he bought a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. By age forty his net gains from undervalued stock purchases swelled to $60 million on their timely sales. Bolstered by prestige and wealth, Meyer became a leading organizer of Allied Chemical Company, and influenced the growth of the nation's copper mining and auto industries. It was then that White House doors swung open to his business acumen. President Woodrow Wilson named him director of the War Finance Corporation which later helped farmers weather the postwar depression. President Calvin Coolidge retained him to salvage the scandal- ridden Federal Farm Loan Board. President Herbert Hoover appointed him to the Federal Reserve Board. Meyer also served under Presidents Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Perhaps he is best known as the 1933 buyer of the failing Washington Post which, as publisher and editor, he restored to health and transformed into a national institution. A communications empire, later managed by his daughter, Pulitzer Prize winner Katherine Graham, was also built during his reign: Newsweek magazine, a Florida TV channel and several radio stations. SAMUEL BRONFMAN (1891 1971) b. Brandon, Canada Industrialist Seagram Company Ltd., and Philanthropist headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, is today the world's largest producer and distributor of distilled spirits. Its dynamic leader launched his teenage career in his father's hotel business which he left for an opportunity in a mail-order liquor enterprise. He acquired a distillery and in 1928 enlarged his company by purchasing Joseph E. Seagram & Sons. Under his stewardship, Seagram prospered and grew to be the dominant distiller in North America, and he soon became an internationally prominent figure within his industry. Business interests only partly held the magnate's attention. Bronfman was equally dedicated to charitable works benefitting hospitals, universities, museums and many other national and Jewish related causes. The even-handed philanthropist gave as bountifully to the Canadian Welfare Council and Red Cross, as to the Zionist movement and Canadian Jewish Congress over which he presided. His influence within government led to mass immigrations into Canada of war orphans and refugees. In the image of father, successor Edgar Bronfman further grew Seagram's economic power after settling in New York in 1955. And as president of the World Jewish Congress, he effectively campaigned to expose Kurt Waldhiem's Nazi links, restore confiscated Jewish properties and force Swiss banks to return concealed Jewish assets. - Saul Stadtmauer - 10/8 1999 Visit many more notable Jews at our website: www.dorledor.org COMMISSION FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF JEWISH HISTORY Walter & Lea Field, Founders/Sponsors Irwin S. Field, Chairperson Harriet F. Siden, Chairperson 14 Detroit Jewish News Driven by fear colloquial pronunciation of kein ayin hora — comes up time and time again. To be Jewish is to be on guard; Roughly translated, the phrase ), there's always another disaster means "may the evil eye stay away. looming. It's said if anyone speaks of their good "A lot of what we do, wear, eat fortune in family, business or health. and say probably originated as a For example, if a woman says she has- way of protecting ourselves against n't been sick for three months, she things over which we have no con- immediately must add the words trol," Frankel says. "kerma hora," or else she will get sick Eleanor Minkoff of Farmington right away. Hills, speaking at the Stage and Co. The fear it represents, Tsoffar says, Restaurant & Delicatessen in West is that if you cannot "contain" your Bloomfield, says her mother's long- success, it will be taken away from held superstitions remain an often- you, much like the idea of hubris in told family story. For reasons Greek mythology. that Minkoff cannot recall, her "The basic issue is that good is mother would never let anyone limited," she says. Its not like in the turn back once they had left Garden of Eden, where good was the house. everywhere, just scoop down and "One time, I had just had pick it up. In this life, if I've got it, my hair done and I was going then you don't have it." to apply for a job," she said. The same concept applies to the "It was pouring rain out and I practice of spitting three times after wanted to come back in to get talking about good fortune. an umbrella. I told her I knew Trachtenberg notes that human sali- exactly where it was, but she va was thought to have anti-demonic Wouldn't let me in. So I did- and anti-magical powers. And, n't get the job." of all mystical numbers, Trachtenberg men- three is the most power- tions this superstition ful. The practice of in his book, citing uttering an anti- it as an outgrowth demonic "p-p-p" of the fear of occurs in Polish demons that Catholic as well live outside the as Jewish tradi- settled com- tion. munity. If a Rabbi man inter- Shraga rupts a jour- Simmons, a ney and returns rabbi from Aish home, these HaTorah, a demons might Torah institute be introduced headquartered in into the home. Israel, says these As Jewish peo- habits have practical ple have assimilated applications as well. "It's a they've tended to lose some of good idea to be careful about their connection with the boasting of our own success past, and their old supersti- because the sad reality is that A hove.- tions — but they have many people are jealous and, This eye was often been quick to pick in order to feel better, they thougl ht to give up new ones. protec Lion from will secretly wish for you to Rabbi Yedwab inadver- evil spirits. lose what you have," he says. tently added to one "very "Flaunting oneself simply unaffiliated" family's store of invited the possibility of the 'evil superstition several years ago when eye."' For Frankel of JPS, the evil eye he conducted a funeral for their represents a quintessential dilemma father. for monotheistic religions: What is "The wind blew up at the the nature of evil? "If you believe that gravesite and blew my kippa into there's only one God, then that God the open grave," Rabbi Yedwab has to be responsible for evil as well "Then, with a lot of feeling says. as good," she says. "Deep down, I and dignity, each of the sons walked think many people can't reconcile this up and threw their kippot into the notion. So the evil eye and other grave. I didn't have the heart to say superstitions were created to account anything." ❑ for evil in the world."