Spit three times
when you hear
good or bad news.
10,000 demons sit
on your right hand.
10,000 demons sit
on your left.
Boasting about good health
invites the evil eye.
Good or bad,
never talk about anyone.
Your words are feathers
in a pillow:
once ripped open
you can never collect
them all back.
Place a prayer book
under the mattress
where your baby sleeps
to keep her from harm.
A daughter should be slapped
on both cheeks
at the moment of her first
menstruation.
Hold the braided candle
to the height you want
your potential husband’s eyes.
Dip finger to blessed wine
then to eye for wisdom,
then to pockets for wealth.
When you are deathly sick
a loved one should change
your name while standing
at the Torah so the angel of death
will not recognize you.
This happened to me
and I survived.
