Whether it’s end-of-semester exams, sports practices or college applications, it seems most teenagers are under 10 pounds of stress at all times. The overwhelming combination of work and extracurricular commitments forces students to accept any kind of relief, no matter how outrageous it may be.

Superstitions are one form of this relief. No matter how silly they may sound, the idea that simply buying a certain shirt, knocking on wood or throwing salt over a shoulder could help control things out of most student’s hands is quite appealing.

While superstitions are mostly thought of as sacrilegious, many, in fact, originate from Jewish tradition.

“We [as Jews] have had challenging moments throughout our history and have always been taught to not take things for granted,” said Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh of Temple Emanuel. “We don’t want to tempt the ‘evil eye’ by getting too comfortable with our everyday life.”

Superstitions stand as a reminder of unpredictable misfortune, which we frequently encounter, Hersh said. Some of the superstitions are understandable in this sense.

For instance, many Jews do not have baby showers or even buy baby products until after the birth as a safeguard against miscarriage.

On the other hand, the belief that putting a hat on a bed will lead to a death in the family or that a child will stop growing if someone walks over them are a bit less logical.

“A lot of times, these superstitions came from tiny villages that, for instance, were plagued by a disease,” Hersh said. “(It was) decided not to put anything that could possibly carry the sickness on the bed, for sanitary reasons. Thus, the tradition spread, and although it may have come from a Jewish village, it is not necessarily exclusively a Jewish superstition. Beliefs such as these are very common throughout all types of ethnic and religious groups.”

Zachary Bukstaber, a senior at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School and member of Nusach Hari B’nai Zion, adheres to many superstitions consistent with his Belarusian upbringing.

“A lot of our superstitions have to do with traveling,” Zachary said. “For instance, once you leave the house, you can’t come back in and. if you do, you have to look in the mirror and knock three times.”

Other Belarusian beliefs include sitting in a circle and counting to three before a big trip, or knocking on wood any time one says, thinks or dreams of something bad. And while these superstitions may have served a psychological purpose at the time of their conception, they now stand as more of a tradition that transcends religion.

“For sure, [I believe in these superstitions],” Zachary said. “They are what my mom taught me to go by, and have always been a part of my life.”

On the other hand, Emma Dubinsky, a junior at John Burroughs School and an avid horseback rider, has not been brought up with these superstitions. Instead, she has developed them on her own.

“Before I ride, I always have the same person do up the [horse] collar,” Emma said.

Personal superstitions such as this are most prevalent in teenagers’ lives, such as a certain T-shirt that must worn to ace a test, or a type of chewing gum that will get them into a particular college.

While many of these superstitions are harmless, Hersh reminds us that, ultimately, we are responsible for our own destinies. Teens especially must always remember that superstitions are just that: superstitions.

Although a special pencil may calm one’s nerves before an exam, it won’t help at all without real studying. Understanding this distinction is necessary for independence from the crutch of superstition.

“Do not live your life getting wrapped up in superstitions,” Hersh said. “Judaism teaches us to take responsibility for our actions, which we all must remember to do.”

Some Super Superstitions — St. Louis teens tell all

• “When I’m at home, I always put tape on my computer’s camera.” – MICDS Senior Jalyn Eaton

• “Once I leave the house, I can’t come back in, and if I do, I have to look in the mirror and knock three times.” -MICDS Senior Zachary Bukstaber

• “Before I ride, I always have the same person do up the [horse] collar.” -John Burroughs School junior Emma Dubinsky

• “I need to use a certain ponytail holder in order to do well on a test” -MICDS Freshman Ellie Goldma

• “Whenever I take the ACT, I wear my favorite band shirt. It puts me in a better mood because it gives me something to think about other than the test.” -Ladue High School senior Hannah Frankel

• “I put my right cleat, shoe or skate on first before every game, and I like to be the last one out of the locker room.” -John Burroughs School sophomore Zach Zlepper