JERUSALEM.- Magic permeates our daily (Jewish) lives
to such a degree that life without magic is close to impossible. An
interesting
fact is that most individuals are unaware that many items in their daily
life
and many daily actions and beliefs are magical in nature. Examples of
this are
endless: knocking on wood, tfu tfu tfu, Evil Eye (בלי עין הרע), not
naming a
child before birth, the amuletic power of the mezuzah, red ribbon
bracelet,
khamsas, jinxes… These and many more practices have ancient sources.
Some have
lost their meaning even though they are still used, for example, the
magical
formula ABRACADABRA, has its roots in the 3rd century CE, and is
continuously
used even today.