In the world that we live in, curses are usually perceived as the work of the other person. In the land of Voodoo, it does not matter how good a person you are, or for that matter, how bad a person you are. If someone wants to curse you, he has that right and that power. If he has a doll and a number of pins, he can stick the doll so that you feel the pain.
Of course for the Jew, such a concept as a voodoo doll is foolish and nothing but superstition. That of course, does not mean that we do not have the concept of the curse. We do. For us a curse is a consequence that one brings upon him or herself as a result of his or her actions.A curse happens because people act in unethical and immoral manners.
We believe that another cannot curse you for acts that he does. You can only be cursed if you are a sinful person. You only will suffer as a result of your wrong actions. In the societies in which man has always lived, some of the most sinful of people have prospered, and some of the most saintly have suffered. We do not understand and never have understood why good ethics do not bring good results. However, we have never denied that God is good and that ultimately good will prevail. That is the very basis of our faith.
In the sedra that we read this week, we study curses and blessings. God speaks and says that curses will happen to those who act unethically and blessings will happen to those who act ethically. We believe that. And even if we cannot see the results of our good deeds in our lifetimes, we believe that ultimately good will prevail over evil; ultimately mankind inherit a world redeemed by his ancestors.