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Red string (Kabbalah)

Red string worn to ward off misfortune

Wearing a thin scarlet or a crimson string (Hebrew: חוט השני, khutt hashani) as a type of talisman is a Jewish folk custom which is practiced as a way to ward off misfortune which is brought about by the "evil eye" (Hebrew: עין הרע). The tradition is popularly thought to be associated with Kabbalah and religious forms of Judaism.

The red string itself is usually made from thin scarlet wool thread. It is worn as a bracelet or band on the wrist of the wearer. The red string was worn in many cultures and not founded solely in Jewish culture. Hinduism and Chinese culture has also worn this red string or bracelet for luck, love and to ward off evil.

Biblical history

A scarlet thread, tied about the wrist, is mentioned in Genesis 38. Tamar becomes pregnant by her father-in-law, Judah, and gives birth to twin boys. The following verses about this event are taken from the King James Bible:

27 – And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. 28 – And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first. 29 – And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez. 30 – And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

Through the ages

There is no written mention in the Torah, Halacha, or Kabbala about requiring the tying a red string around the wrist. Though sources mention red strings as a good omen, it is not evident if they were widely worn. The only case we find a public exhortation to wear red strings is in the 1490s: When Jews were not allowed to wear Tefilin, Rabbi Abraham Saba recommended Jews to wear a red string on their hands (to remember the commandment of Tefilin).

Modern trend

Today in Israel, it is common to see elderly women peddling scarlet thread for pilgrims and tourists, especially in the Old City of Jerusalem. Outside of Israel in the late 1990s the red string became popular with many celebrities, including many non-Jews including Madonna and her children. Additional celebrities have worn the scarlet thread, such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Jackson, Ariana Grande, Tucker Carlson & Jared Kushner. The wider popularity is often linked to Philip Berg's Kabbalah Centre. It also gained a surge in sales for Madonna according to editors of * Changing Fashion: A Critical Introduction to Trend Analysis and Cultural Meaning* (2007).

References

Book sources

References

{{Bibleverse. Genesis. 38:27. KJV
Holzer, Zecharia. (2015). "Etz Chaim Journal (Volume 24)".
"Kabbalah: who has a red string and why?".
BritneySpearsVEVO. (25 October 2009). "Britney Spears – Everytime".
Nephin, Dan. (12 February 2005). "Kabbalah not a celebrity fashion statement, Jews say". [[Deseret News]].
Lappin, Elena. (11 December 2004). "The Thin Red Line". [[The Guardian]].
"Inside Hollywood's Hottest Cult". radaronline.com.
(2006-07-12). "Madonna Gives Her Money Away". [[Fox News]].
{{harvnb. Lynch. Strauss. 2007

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