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The concept of “Ayin Hara” — that people can cast an “evil eye” upon someone and hinder his success — is a true concept and we actually daven each morning to save us from this. There are many traditional Jewish practices that are aimed at fighting this, such as the minhag of hanging “Shir Hamaalos” amulets near a newborn baby.Nevertheless, when people wrote to the Rebbe of the concern that their problems are caused by Ayin Hara, the usual solution offered was to diminish its power by not attributing too much power to it and at the same time improve one’s spiritual situation. Following are several letters on this matter:

In the following letter, dated 8 Cheshvan 5713, the Rebbe adresses a woman who wrote of a host of troubles she’s going through (apparently associating them with Ayin Hara) and advises her:

…Referring to your letter and various questions and problems about which you write, I want to dwell on Item 6 of your letter, which contains the key to all the other problems. In this paragraph you mentioned that you feel depressed and cannot see any reasons for a brighter future. You ask how you can get rid of your fears.

The answer is completely simple. When a person will reflect, in a logical way about the creation and the order and precision and laws that are to be found in nature, the conclusion must be inescapable. There is a tremendous system of order in the universe, and strict laws, and, therefore there can be no doubt that the world is regulated by plan, order and purpose.

The very fact that there is order, purpose and law in the universe, must lead one to the conviction that all that is good, since evil is the opposite of order and system, and is associated with chaos.

No matter how much importance a person attaches to ones own self and ones own problems, he must recognize that if there is such order in such a complicated universe, how much easier it is to bring about law and order in ones own small universe—a thought which should lead to satisfaction and peace of mind.

…If we consider all of the above, we must come to the firm conviction that if man would not upset his own life through circumstances depending upon his free will, he would inevitably come to the good. Even if, temporarily, one finds oneself in an unpleasant or painful situation, it is surely infinitely insignificant by comparison to all the good that will result from it.

…In the light of the above, you may be quite certain that there is a good answer to all your problems and that eventually all the complications will be resolved satisfactorily. Needless to say, one has to seek to solve ones problems, but there can be no room for a feeling of depression and certainly no room for a feeling of despondency, which can be nothing but destructive.

…. With regard to Item No. 5, concerning the “Ayin Hara” the best thing is to dismiss it from your mind and give a few cents every morning for Tzedoko before the prayer of Shema.

Item No. 7, regarding psychiatric help. If you mean seeking psychiatric advice through a visit or two, and the psychiatrist in question is one who understands the atmosphere in the Jewish religious home, there can be no objection to it. However, I would not recommend that you undertake lengthy psychiatric treatment, since you yourself could do considerably more for yourself than any psychiatrist can do for you.

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…With regard to the anxieties of Bobbie… over what you describe as three evils, one of which is an evil eye, it would be advisable to have the Mezuzoth of her home checked, and let her begin every week-day by setting aside a couple of cents for Tzedoko, in addition to her Tzedoko before lighting the candles.

Let her stop thinking about an evil eye, and if she will not attach importance to it, it will have no effect on her. The other two evils that you write about are not clear to me, and perhaps next time you could state them more clearly. (Letter dated 3 Nissan 5717, Teshura Mann-Weiss, 27 Adar 5783)

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In a postscript to a letter dated 7 Iyar 5737 the Rebbe wrote the following:

Since writing the above letter, your letter of April 26th was received, in which you write about an “Ayin Hara.”

It is explained in our Torah, called Toras Chaim and Toras Emes, because it is our guide in life and all its teachings are true, that when a Jew conducts his daily life in accordance with G-d’s Will, as set forth in the Shulchan Aruch, thus keeping wide open the channels to receive G-d’s blessings, then there is no room for fear or anxiety, as is frequently stated in our Holy Scriptures such as, “G-d is with me, I shall not fear,” “He sends His angels to guide you in all your ways,” and many others in this vein.

If you have not had your Mezuzoth checked recently, it would be well to have them checked to make sure they are Kosher and properly affixed. (Letters of the Rebbe, Vol. 5 p. 187)

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