Does Evil Eye Work?
In this week’s parsha, we learn about the giving of the first Luchos/Tablets – the Two Tablets that contained the Aseres haDibros (which is commonly translated as the Ten Commandments). This first set of Luchos was broken, though, and a second set was given to Moshe, which lasted forever. Why didn’t G-d let us keep this first set forever? Why did they need to be smashed?

The Midrash states that when the first Luchos/Tablets were given, they were given in a very public manner, as explained in this week’s parsha. It was basically the greatest fireworks show that ever existed, with thunder and lightning. The whole world shook at the moment the first Luchos/Tablets were given. The second Luchos/Tablets, though, were given in a very quiet and modest manner – no fanfare this time. To put this another way, the first Luchos had more of a focus on external, while the second had a more internal focus. The one that lasted forever was the one internally focused, giving quietly so no one was able to give an evil eye to them.

Adopted from the class of Rabbi Eli Mansour