"SEE THE GIRL WITH THE RED THREAD ON . . . "

Friends know that, for reasons yet to be determined, I have always had a greater following among gentiles than among Jews. That has become doubly true now that I am bereft of congregation. The email does keep coming in, and it is a telling window into the curiosities that non-Jewish folks have about Jewish beliefs and practices, particularly the ones that rise to the level of media attention. The following exchange might be an interesting case in point, pique some interest and even answer a few questions . . .

Dear Rabbi Wilson:

I've just read that Target is selling Kabbalah Red String for $25.99 (plus tax and shipping). Yes, I know that this centuries-old spiritual tool is believed to protect against the evil eye, a negative energy source. In fact, when the first grandson of my Jewish friends was born, his parents painted a red string on his bedroom wall. Is this just a new fad or something that Jews and even gentiles should consider a worthwhile dressing for the wrist? I'd appreciate your thoughts on this topic, as I have always found your comments very interesting.

Dear Charlene:

Two issues are at the center of the controversy over this fad (?) superstition (?) venerated mystical practice (?):

FIRST, the efficacy of amulets is a hotly debated topic throughout classical Judaism. The opinions fall roughly into three categories:

1. Trust in amulets is an aberration of venerated Jewish belief that is harmful to the integrity of Judaism. True, a hypercritical view may also see the tefillin (phylacteries, see Deuteronomy 6:8) as "amulets," but they, and they alone, are mandated by the Divine Writ.

2. Trust in amulets is an aberration of venerated Jewish belief, but it is a relatively harmless folk practice. Amulets may help simple people draw closer to the faith if they have trouble connecting up to Judaism in more sublime intellectual and spiritual ways.

3. Amulets are invested with real powers of healing and mystical/spiritual elevation. Depending on whom you ask, this has or has not been part of mainstream Jewish belief. From my standpoint, it’s a real stretch to impute inert objects with Divine power in the name of Judaism. The practice has often led Judaism to some really weird and even disastrous places.

SECOND, The vast majority of my colleagues and I would passionately maintain that the "pop Kabbalah" as studied and practiced by the Hollywood crowd, has only the vaguest whiff of genuine Kabbalah about it. Understanding authentic Kabbalah requires a thoroughgoing grasp of Torah, Talmud, Midrash and other Rabbinic sources – equivalent of trying to understand calculus before mastering ones times tables. (Hence, I have always resisted teaching classes on the substance of Kabbalah and have focused only on teaching "what Kabbalah is about," – and, believe me, that is not out of false humility!).

Moreover, folks looking for a quick fix through Kabbalah are likely to be terribly disappointed or at least bored to tears by authentic Kabbalah, not realizing that 98% of Kabbalah is not mantras, incantations, red strings, amulets and ooga-booga "mysticism," but rarified "metaphysics," and volumes upon volumes of it.

My colleagues and I would further maintain that to look at the curricula of opportunistic folks like the ones who are feeding Madonna, et al, their fix of "pop Kabbalah" are providing them precisely that, a quick fix. There are any number of reputable academics and spiritually-charged individuals who are intense students, scholars and interpreters of Kabbalah, but they in no way resemble the folks who instruct and enrich themselves from mentoring the Hollywood crowd.

As far as the red thread, I personally have always considered it a harmless folk practice. Now I am beginning to have second thoughts. We did not do it with our kids, and thank God, we wound up with three religious kids anyway, a doctor, an MBA and a student at Yeshiva University.

What really offends me about this entire ruckus is that they are selling them at Target and not Dolce & Gabbana. We deserve better.