Ayin Hara - The evil eye - Hocus Pocus

Question

There are people that do some sort of procedure with lead that they claim gets rid of Ayin Hara. Is this hocus pocus or true?

Answer 1

Obviously you won't find any clear proof one way or the other. I'll just mention that the Tzemach Tzedek (OC siman 38) entertains the possibility that this procedure is effective for certain ailments, to the extent that he allows it to be performed on Shabbos (because of the possibility that it might save a life).

For a discussion about which people do this today: http://www.bhol-forums.co.il/topic.asp?topic_id=1671743&forum_id=771

Answer 2

I know of no source within Kabbalistic texts that state to do this.

Specifically when I asked Rav Kaduri ZTz"L about someone who did it in Jerusalem, he said it was ossur as a Kabbalah Maasit.

Second to that, the "procedure" that they do to remove the Ayin HaRa and prove that it has been removed is an old stage trick, my wife showed me how it was done.

A much simpler and often cheaper way to remove the Ayin Hara that is found both in the Kitvei HaAri as well as in other texts is to carry a piece of a plant called "Ruda". Many Mekubalim carry a piece that has been laminated. Also there is to hold a packet of salt in one's hand on the first day of Sefirat HaOmer, when saying the Omer, and then carrying that for the rest of the year.

Answer 3

As Mekubal said it was deemed to be Kabbala Maasit which was Asured by Rav Chaim Vital through the Ari 450 years ago. My cousin asked this question to Rav Yaakov Moshe Hilel, and he said it was Kabala Maasit. Once, I found some in my house and asked my Rav what to do, he said to through it out.