Protection Against the Evil Eye of Resentment
A Special Letter from the Land of Israel for Simchat Torah, 5785:
The nation of Israel was born in Egypt, the land of images. Ancient images, from Egypt to Babylon, were often made of gold and silver. The images of global modernity transmitted over our phones and through our computers are made of digital dust.
Digital dust is not stardust, the primal, explosive, affirmative rhythm that all bodies, including human bodies, transmit. Digital dust does not transmit a rhythm. Digital dust transmits the vision of what people across North Africa and the Middle East call the Evil Eye, the resentful enemy. According to the Amoraic sage Rav in Bava Metzia (107b), 99% of those he examined died from the Evil Eye. Hakham Shalom Messas, the great 20th c. Moroccan rabbi (1909-2003), explained that Rav is referring to how our resentments cause corruption from within, “People died because they cast the Evil Eye onto others” (Shemesh U’Magen, Part II, p. 326).
The resentment-driven alchemy of digital dust turns good into evil and evil into good. It makes the beautiful ugly and the ugly, beautiful: “Israel is committing genocide” and “Sinwar died a heroic death.” Facts don’t matter when the Evil Eye is plotting in the digital dust. An iron dome for the soul is required for defense.
The Biblical hero Joseph taught us how to transcend the Evil Eye from within. From the bottom of the snake-and-scorpion-filled pit to Pharaoh’s dungeon, Joseph’s vision of gratitude was so large and his bearing so beautiful that, say the Talmudic Sages, the Evil Eye had no power over him (Berachot, 20a).
The symbol of the American Sephardi Federation is a “Hamsa,” an amulet portraying the strong hand of G-d, who led us out of Egypt, and that continually offers symbolic protection from the Evil Eye. This Simchat Torah, on the anniversary of that cursed day Hamas stood outside our window (and worse), in appreciation for the beauty of Biblical justice (measure for measure), and in the spirit of gratitude that turns enemies into strength, let us say a new blessing:
May the missiles of our enemies always fall upon their heads, like beepers exploding in the hands of terrorists, and may the digital dust of poisonous resentment be sucked back into the Evil Eye from which it was first sent.
~~~~~~~
Together, we can go
from strength to strength in the New Year!
With your generous, tax-deductible donation, the ASF can cultivate and advocate, preserve and promote, as well as educate and empower!
For more information about sponsorship opportunities: email or leave a message at 212.294.8350. To donate by mail, please send a check payable to “American Sephardi Federation,” 15 W 16th St., New York, NY, 10011
Email us at info@americansephardi.org if you are interested in discussing donating securities or planned giving options with a financial professional from AllianceBernstein.
~~~~~~~
Upcoming Events or Opportunities
The American Sephardi Community will Stand Together: Unity, Strength, Resilience
Sunday, 10 November, 3:00PM
Washington, D.C.
Gates Open at 12PM; Pre-Show Starts at 1PM
The American Sephardi Federation, as the Sephardic Voice in the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, is proud to once again be joining forces with the Jewish Federations of North America and other organizations gathering in Washington, D.C. to reaffirm shard American values, support for Israel, and to strengthen Jewish unity and resilience. Apply to join the official American Sephardi Community delegation to Stand Together.
Sign-up Now!
~~~~~~~
The Combat Antisemitism Movement, Jazz Leadership Project, and American Sephardi Federation present:
American Excellence
The Omni-American Future Gala
Join us for a night of inspiration, music and excellence honoring Roy Niederhoffer and Emmet Cohen.
Experience an evening of the world-class jazz, music, fine dining., and blues with Coleman Hughes and Itamar Borochov performing with The Emmet Cohen Trio.
Tuesday, 12 November
Cocktail Reception
6:00-7:00PM ET
Dinner & Program
7:00-9:00PM ET
@Ginny’s Supper Club (310 Lenox Ave. NYC)
Sign-up Now!
Tickets: $45-$500
The Omni-American Future Project is a cultural initiative that draws from the vision of Albert Murray and the rich traditions of jazz to build a robust cultural and political center in America. It seeks to counter extremism and division by fostering unity, inclusion, and shared values.