Tehillim 5 – How to Protect Yourself from Ayin Hara

Tehillim 5 – How to Protect Yourself from Ayin Hara

Tehillim 5:8 - “Va'ani, berov chasdecha, avo veitecha, eshtachaveh el heichal kodshecha beyiratecha” - (but I, through Your abundant kindness, will enter Your house; I will bow toward Your holy Sanctuary in awe of You). The Midrash (Devarim Rabbah, 1:11) cites the passage in the Torah in which Moses our teacher, in the fortieth year of the Jewish people's sojourn in the wilderness, addresses them: “The L-rd your G-d has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as numerous as the stars of heaven”. (Devarim 1:10) Immediately after these words, the Midrash continues by saying that this refers to: “But I, through Your abundant kindness, will enter Your house; I will bow toward Your holy Sanctuary in awe of You.” (Tehillim 5:8) What is the connection between Moses’ words and this verse from Tehillim? Rabbi Bunim of Peshischa said in Siach Sarfei Kodesh (zechuto yagen aleinu) that this verse from Tehillim possesses a unique power against the evil eye. Therefore, after words that could expose a person to the danger of the evil eye, such as Moses’ words, “And behold, you are today as numerous as the stars of heaven”, this verse should be recited so as not to fear the evil eye. The Kabbalists also teach that the 10 words of this pasuk from Tehillim, recited 40 times, equal 400. The number 400 is the gematria of the word רעעין (“envious,” “one who possesses the evil eye”). As is known, the Sitra Achra (the realm of impurity) contains 400 forces, as indicated by the concealed meaning of the verse: “And behold, Esau came, and with him were four hundred men”. (Bereishit 33:1) 400 is also the numerical value of the letter ת in the word מות (death)—and it joined with מו when Eve ate the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. This too began with the eyes, as it is written (Bereishit 3:6): “And the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was desirable to the eyes…”. Segula: Recite the pasuk from Tehillim 5:8 – “Va'ani, berov chasdecha, avo veitecha, eshtachaveh el heichal kodshecha beyiratecha”, which consists of 10 words, 40 times, thereby neutralizing the effects of ayin hara. (Ben Ish Chai on “Balak”; Rabbi Moshe Abramovich, David’s Candle)