Passing Phrase - www.learnhebrew.org.il

Rachok Meha'ayin Rachok Mehalev

Literally: Far from the eye, far from the heart
Idiomatically: Out of sight out of mind

As far as I was able to research, there is no Biblical or Rabbinic source for this phrase. There was however a connection between seeing and the heart as in עין רואה ולב חומד "Ayin ro'eh velev chomed" - A seeing eye and a loving heart (Numbers 15;39). Our phrase may be familiar to many Israelis from the song in the 1986 movie "Shtey Etsbaot MiTzidon" - Two Fingers from Sidon, By Eli Medursky and Benny Nagri.

Some believe that the idea can be traced back to Homer and the Odyssey even if it has a slightly different meaning. In English it can already be found used in the 16th century.

Before the whole idea of social networking, you may have consoled a friend by saying אתה תתגבר על הגעגועים אליה – רחוק מהעין, רחוק מהלב.

"Atah titgaber al haga'aguim eleha – rachok meha'ayin rachok mehalev."

You will overcome your yearning for her – out of sight, out of mind.


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