  
|
Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe
Syosset, New York
|
|
*The Yiddish word for superstition is "ayngleybenish"
I read Thomas L. Friedman's New York Times article (Sept. 5, 2010) titled, "Superbroke, Superfrugal, Superpower?" He says that "Yes, America has gone from being the supreme victor of World War II, with guns and butter for all, to one of two superpowers during the cold war, to the indispensable nation after winning the cold war, to 'The Frugal Superpower' of today. Get used to it. That's our new nickname."
The title--with all the "super" words-- reminded me of the Yiddish word for SUPERSTITION: "ayngleybenish."
In the Jewish religion superstitions are "shefedik" (plentiful).
My mother used to say that if you sew a "knepl" (button) on a shirt then a piece of yarn/thread should be put in their mouth to keep it mobile because the only time one is supposed to sew on a person is on "di takhrikhim" (shrouds/Jewish burial).
When my grandson, Shane, was born, his "elter-bobe" (great-grandmother), Dorothy, went to great lengths to protect the "eynikl" (child). She painted a red ribbon on the wall and tied a red ribbon on his crib. Some grandparents tie the red ribbon on the baby's "untervesh" (underwear) to ensure safe- keeping from bad vibes.
Another superstition states that if the groom should break a glass at the conclusion of the wedding ceremony, not only will he cast away the demons, but will "oyfvekn" (awaken) himself to the reality that married life is NOT only romantic, but demands commitment and responsibility.
And then there's the superstition that should the groom step on the bride's "fus" (foot) when both are under the "chupa," it is a clear indication he will rule her. If she should step on his "fus," the opposite applies.
Another superstition, if a childless couple finds an egg with a double yolk, then eating it will reward her with many "gezunt" (healthy) offspring.
Some Russian Jews believe that in order for a bride to be gifted with children she must carry an egg in her "buzem" (bosom) while going to the "chupa."
Some Jews eat large amounts of "knobl" (garlic) to ward off the evil spirits. And for the "krank" (sick) and the dying, some people thought that by changing the name of the departed, it would deceive the Angel of Death.
Rabbi Barry H. D. Block, spiritual leader of Temple Beth-El in San Antonio, gave a sermon on June 13, 1997, titled, "Does Superstition Enslave Our Minds?" With his permission, I am sharing a portion of his sermon. (See: http://www.beth-elsa.org/be s0613.htm for the citation/link to the full sermon.)
"When I was a child, if our extended family would gather for dinner, we would often have thirteen people at the table. Unfortunately, my great-grandmother was very superstitious. Fortunately, though, she didn't see very well. Frequently she would ask, "How many people are at the table?" The answer was always the same: "twelve." Ultimately, my great-grandmother died on the thirteenth day of the month. No, it wasn't a Friday.
Today is Friday the thirteenth, a uniquely unlucky day, according to superstition. Actually, though, the number thirteen has only positive connotations in Judaism. We celebrate Bar and Bat Mitzvah at the age of thirteen. We are taught that God has given us 613 commandments.
Even if the number thirteen doesn't bother us, we Jews do have our superstitions. Some are harmful and should be eliminated, while others are more innocent. Some traditional practices, though, often dismissed as mere superstitions, may actually provide deeply meaningful religious moments."
Rabbi Block continues: "Some years ago, in Israel, an entire bus full of school children from one town were killed in a terrible accident. In the days following the horrible tragedy, the chief rabbi of the town announced that the accident had occurred because too many of the mezuzzot in town were not kosher. His pronouncement was based on the superstitious notion that the mezuzzah is a mere amulet, a magic spell meant to ward off evil."
Rabbi Block says, "This kind of superstition is harmful, and should be eliminated, because it suggests that victims have brought on their own misfortune. Imagine the parents of those Israeli school children, who were told that their children would have lived if they had simply remembered to have their mezuzzot inspected on a regular basis. Moreover, this kind of superstition can drive Jews away from Judaism. A sophisticated person, hearing that the mezuzzah wards off evil, may well assume that all of Judaism's teachings are equally silly, and therefore unworthy of our attention."
Rabbi Block concludes his sermon by saying, "If every act of faith is no more than mere superstition, then perhaps our entire religion, indeed every religion, can be dismissed as mere superstition. Dr. Chanan Brichto, of blessed memory, who was a teacher at the Hebrew Union College, used to say that 'the difference between religion and superstition is that superstition is the other person's religion.' "Superstition" may just be another word for faith."
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |
| N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z |
| Yiddish
Stuff Jewish Humor Schmooze News More Majorie Wolfe |
Principle Jewish Stories All Things Jewish Jewish Communities of the World |