Obj. ID: 37428
Sacred and Ritual Objects  Amulet, Ukraine, circa 1800

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

This is an example of a type of inexpensive, easily cast lead amulet that has only recently come to light. The disovery came because of extensive use of metal detectors by amateur explorers in the FSU, primarily in the Ukraine, where such amulets have been uncovered in both quantity and variety. In the Gross Family Collection there are more than 60 different variations. It is clear that they were a very popular protective talisman, worn by numberous Jewish children.

This is an example of a round "Heh' type amulet created for a male child to be hung around his neck on a string or chain. It has been postulated that this amulet was connected with the protection of a child for whom the Pidyon Haben ceremony could not be performed on time. In the center of the obverse is the single letter "Heh" of the monogrammaton. Around this is the blessing for the child to grow "to the Torah, to the Chupah and to good deeds". On the reverse is a name of God, "Shadai", and around the circumfrince is the 22 letter name of God. It is a variation of the more prevalent round amulets such as 027.025.001.

Inscription: "Heh"