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

[Toby Katz]

From: "Professor L. Levine" <llevine at stevens.edu>
T

>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.... 

.....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
 
>>>>>
 
It is possible that one manifestation of ruach raah may be bacteria.  So parents should definitely wash their hands before feeding their children. 
 
 
--Toby Katz
t613k at aol.com
 
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