[Avodah] Does Ru’ach Ra’ah (negative spirits) still exist today?

[Professor L. Levine]

>From Today's OU Kosher Halacha Yomis


Q. Does Ru’ach Ra’ah (negative spirits) still exist today?



A. In many places, the Gemara discusses Ruach Ra’ah, ayin horah, sheidim and other negative spiritual forces. Though the Rambam interpreted many of these references in Torah literature in a homiletical manner, most Rishonim understood them in a literal sense, and the Shulchan Oruch and other halachic codifiers discuss practical implications of Ruach Ra’ah and other negative forces.

Though people might view such matters as unscientific and mere superstition, it should be noted that much of reality is not visible to the naked eye. Scientists have revealed the presence of numerous invisible forces in the universe, such as gravity and electromagnetic waves. In fact, scientists today theorize that dark matter, which no one has ever seen, accounts for 80% of the matter in the universe. Just as G-d created indiscernible physical forces in the universe which physicists have shown to exist, Chazal identified invisible spiritual forces that potentially impact negatively on both the body and soul (see Teshuvos Vihanhogos 1:8).

The Gemara (Shabbos 109a) states that when awakening in the morning, a person must wash his or her hands (three times) to remove Ru’ach Ra’ah. Until one does so, one must be careful not to touch the mouth, nose, eyes or ears so as not to allow the Ru’ach Ra’ah to enter into the body. Also, one may not touch food, since the Ru’ach Ra’ah will spread to the food. Although the Maharshal (Chulin 8:12) questions whether any form of Ru’ach Ra’ah still exists today, the consensus of most poskim is that this is still a concern. The Halachos of removing Ru’ach Ra’ah from one’s hands are codified in Shulchan Aruch (OC 4:2-5). If one touched food before washing in the morning, the Mishnah Berurah (4:14) writes that bedieved (after the fact) the food may be eaten, but if possible the food should be rinsed three times.

The Gemara warns us about other forms of Ru’ach Ra’ah (damaging spirits). However, the Magen Avrohom (173:1) writes that there are some forms of Ru’ach Ra’ah that no longer pose a danger.

For example, the Gemara (Yoma 77b) writes that during the course of the day, one must wash their hands before feeding bread to a young child; otherwise a Ru’ach Ra’ah will affect the bread. The Tur (OC 613) writes that this form of ru’ach ra’ah no longer exists (though it is still present when waking in the morning). As such there is no longer a requirement to wash one’s hands before touching bread that one will feed to a child.


YL
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