Madonna, Demi Moore, and even Britney Spears have all been seen sporting a red string from Israel on their wrists. Some say wearing the string, also known as a bendel, will ward off the evil eye, while others believe it is associated with Kabbalah. Wherever the bracelet came from, we know that superstitions such as this are creating ambiguous ideas in the origin of the community's traditions.

The red string originated in the Tomb of Rachel in Israel. Although prevalent in many communities around the world, Jewish tradition believes that it will either protect women during childbirth, or ward off the evil eye. Chamsas, hand charms usually made into a pendant for a necklace, beads with eyes painted on them, as well as turquoise stones are also believed to be symbols that deflect the evil eye.
The celebrity world has caught on to this craze, but long before this fixation, our own community members were practicing these superstitions for generations.

Although considered a tradition, superstitions such as these were alluded to in the Torah. Before entering Canaan, Moshe warned the nation about sorcerers and the practice of magic in the land. Chamsas and red strings fall into this category. The Jews were not supposed to believe that something could have an effect on their predestined future. Though the origins of belief in the evil eye are unclear, today we long to repel it, so how can we find a means to turn away from the superstitions we now hold as traditions?

There are differing ideas regarding whether or not the superstitions are becoming more popular in the community, or whether they are dying out. David Rudy Jewelers does not sell chamsas or any other superstitious items. Rachelle Cohen, manager of the store, does not believe in such superstitions because she did not grow up with them. “It depends on what family you came from,” she says. “Some people pass them down from generation to generation.”

Another store in Deal does sell these items. A small section of Casablanca Gifts is dedicated to key chains and necklaces with chamsas, as well as bracelets with painted eyes on the glass beads and the red string bracelet. Linda Levy, owner of the store, does not believe in warding off the evil eye. She says, “I heard so many superstitions from my mother as I was growing up that I thought a lot of it was silly.” Though Levy does not practice such superstitions, she began selling these items because of the large demand for them. The younger generation is buying a lot of the superstitious items. “They are asking me for tiny chamsas to put on cribs and strollers for babies, so I know they believe in them,” she says.

Even though young members of the community are buying superstitious symbols, they may not necessarily believe they have any powers. Adele Mizrahi, 21, wears the red string, but does not believe in its significance. “It's not like I really believe it's going to protect me from the evil eye,” she says, because it's “just a cultural thing.”

Others too grew up with families who believe in superstitious practices. Rena Gutholc, 21, for instance, grew up with a strict grandmother who would yell at her if she did something not in accordance with proper superstitions. For example, a common superstition is not to say the number five, because five fingers are on the chamsas hand. “My family goes crazy if you talk with your hand out,” she says, “because it's as if you're flashing the number five at them and cursing them with the evil eye.” Gutholc, like Mizrahi, believes that superstitions are fading away as each generation gets older. “The reason superstitions are so strong in the community,” she suggests, “is because some people think they're true, and at the same time, they bind you to Judaism.”

The passage of the Torah where Moshe tells Jews not to follow in the way of Canaanites can directly be applied to us today. Rashi comments that we must put our hope in Hashem and not in other sources of believed power. Whether you believe that superstitions are prevalent in all of our community, or even some of it, we must come to understand we cannot look towards objects to intervene in the course of our lives.

Rabbi Ralph Tawil, former principal of Hillel Yeshiva, says, “Problems are not solved through magic, but through real steps to improve the situation. These include thinking about the problem, improving oneself, and of course, praying for Hashem's guidance.”

Jewish religion teaches us about belief in Hashem's power without regards to other objects. The red string craze is spreading wildly throughout Hollywood, so we too often find community members buying red string bracelets and chamsas charms. But like Rashi warns us, warding off the evil eye is more tradition and fad-based than rooted in religion. So the next time you see a red string wrapped around Madonna's wrist, it's up to you whether or not to believe in its power. 

Written by: Rachel Levy