The Red Band of Courage (or Cowardice) and Other Jewish Superstitions

NEW YORK — Pooh, Pooh, Pooh, I’m not superstitious, ken ayin ha’ra (no evil eye). But why take chances?

So, of course, I observe the secular warnings: Avoid black cats and don’t walk under ladders — and, honoring the Druids, I knock on wood so as not to invoke bad karma when celebrating good news.

No shoes on the bed. No 13th-floor apartment ( fortunately my building goes up only to the 4th floor so, fingers crossed, I’m okay).

But my major concentration, of course, is on the particularly Jewish superstitions which are legion and have a character all their own.

A most popular one centers on the raiteh bendel (red band), which can be found pinned on a child’s underwear, by a cautious parent, as it was on mine …or in adult years, in full view in the family car, to avoid vehicular accidents.

(Not proven, but some observers thought that Donald Trump’s fondness for red ties reflected his insecure homage to raite-bendel superstition.)

Another belief popular in Jewish lore is that of emes genaussen — that if someone sneezes when something is said, then the words are true.

(Full disclosure: When people seemed reluctant to believe what I was saying, I tried to give my words credulity by forcing a sneeze. But, trust me, that’s almost impossible.)

Also, people having a button sewn on the clothing that they’re wearing must keep a piece of thread in their mouths during the sewing to prevent their brains from turning to cotton.

Some of the beliefs are most considerate of others, as when we bring bread and salt to people who have just moved into a house or apartment.

Perphas most considerate was the  renowned New York City gangster of bygone years who would not kill on Shabbos.

Our atomic weapon against someone believed to embody the evil eye is salt in the pocket.

Many of the beliefs have food connections,for instance, when on Rosh Hashanah, we toss into a body of water pieces of bread representing our sins.

If truth be told, I’m bothered by the principle underlying many superstitions: Why does the Almighty need surrogates (such as the Evil Eye) to carry out evil decrees?

Perhaps the most bothersome is the belief that if someone is very ill, we change that person’s name or add a new one,to confuse the evil spirit.

As a very sick kid at an early age, I was in bad enough shape to merit an additional name, and the family added Chaim (“life”) to my existing Hebrew one (Yisroel).

An aunt of mine said if they were adding a Hebrew name, why not add an English one, as well.

The family agreed, and nominated her to come up with the addition. She chose “Hugh,” which, to me, goes great with Grant or Jackman, but borders on incompatible with Cohen.

Joel Cohen is a New York-based freelance writer.