NUM293 Any person who knows Yiddish, or even just a few Yiddish expressions, is familiar with the expression "K'neiyna Hara" (or a similar pronunciation of that expression), which is used whenever speaking about something good or that one is proud of. These words actually are "K'neged Ayin Hara" -- which are intended to be used against or to prevent the evil eye. Even people who do not believe in the occult or amulets use this expression regularly. While it is not strictly speaking of "alternative medicine," fighting off the evil eye seems to be something very mainstream to Judaism and is regarded as keeping Jews healthy and joyous. This concept is much more prevalent in Judaism than one might think. ... When Bilaam tried to curse the Jewish people and he gazed at them, Rashi says he tried to cast the evil eye upon them (this verse with Rashi commentary). The mystical book, the Zohar, explains that Bilaam had this special power of being able to cast the evil eye upon people and cause them harm (Zohar 1:68b). ... When the Mishna in Ethics of the Fathers explains that a person should have the quality of an Ayin Tova -- a good eye, and not an Ayin Hara -- an evil eye, this usually signifies that a person should be generous and not stingy in how he treats and gives to others (Mishna Avot 2:11). Rabbeinu Yonah explains that this element of stinginess is derived when someone is jealous of the good that others have (Rabbeinu Yonah commentary on Mishna Avot 2:11). When the jealous person has this Ayin Hara, or evil eye feeling against another person's success, this causes Heaven to take away the good from the person who feels jealous, but it also sometimes results in the removal of the bountiful gifts that the other person enjoys. But how and why does it work that jealousy can cause harm to a person who did nothing wrong? Apparently when people are judged on Rosh Hashana, when their worldly goods and other benefits for that year are determined, they are judged with mercy. When someone "casts an evil eye" on someone else through jealousy, it causes Heaven to "take a second look" at this person and judge him or her again, but this time more objectively. If the person is not deserving of the gifts he or she enjoys, it is possible that Heaven will decide at that point to remove some or all of these intended gifts.... Today, Jews use the expression "K'neiyna Hara" whenever they express pride in something or a special gift from God. That, in effect, signifies that Jews are asking God not to look again at their situation and change them more harshly. That is, Jews should not do anything that would draw attention to themselves and cause God to "take a second look" at them. So, for example, when people ask how many grandchildren or great-grandchildren one has, some people refuse to answer with specific number, in order not to invite the Ayin Hara so that God will not reject them and consider taking away one of those children or great-grandchildren. The same is true when speaking about a person's wealth or anything else that is good in a person's life. A Jew should simply not call attention to any benefits in his or her life.