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Obj. ID: 37490
Sacred and Ritual Objects
  Amulet, Ukraine, circa 1900

© Gross Family Collection, Photographer: Bar Hama, Ardon, -

In the centre of the amulet is a circle that has the letter ה in the middle standing for "the Lord". Around the circle there is a Hebrew inscription:

זה הילד יגדל לתורה / לחופה ומ"ט (מעשים טובים).

May this child rise to Torah/ Huppah and to good deeds.

 

The other side of the amulet is decorated with two fish. The break between the fish once had a hole for the chain. This side has an inscription and it reads:

י'ר'מ'ה'א'ו'א' [=יהיה רצון מלפניך ה' אלהינו ואלהי אבותינו] 

שתציל תנוקת של

עמך ישראל שלא

תפול אסכרה בפיהם

ותגדלם לתורתך ותגן

עליהם ברחמיך 

אמן

May it be Your will, our God and God of our ancestors

that You save children of

Your People Israel from

diphtheria

and raise them to Torah

and protect them with Your mercy (based on the verse from Likutei Tfilot, part 1, Prayer 28)

Amen

 

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 are additional prayers for the wellbeing of the child and against the evil eye. This is another slight variation of the normal large round amulets and differs in that the hanging loop is not flat but on a post above.

Summary and Remarks
Remarks

2 image(s)

sub-set tree:

Name/Title
Amulet (against children's diphtheria) | Unknown
Object Detail
Monument Setting
Unknown
Date
circa 1900
Active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown
Origin
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community type
Congregation
Location
Unknown |
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Unknown
Period Detail
Collection
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
Textual Content
Unknown |
Languages of inscription
Unknown
Shape / Form
Unknown
Material / Technique
Lead, Cast
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
Diameter: 3.8 cm, Depth: 0.2 cm
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition
Extant
Documented by CJA
Surveyed by CJA
Present Usage
Present Usage Details
Condition of Building Fabric
Architectural Significance type
Historical significance: Event/Period
Historical significance: Collective Memory/Folklore
Historical significance: Person
Architectural Significance: Style
Architectural Significance: Artistic Decoration
Urban significance
Significance Rating
0
Ornamentation
Custom
Contents
Codicology
Scribes
Script
Number of Lines
Ruling
Pricking
Quires
Catchwords
Hebrew Numeration
Blank Leaves
Direction/Location
Façade (main)
Endivances
Location of Torah Ark
Location of Apse
Location of Niche
Location of Reader's Desk
Location of Platform
Temp: Architecture Axis
Arrangement of Seats
Location of Women's Section
Direction Prayer
Direction Toward Jerusalem
Coin
Coin Series
Coin Ruler
Coin Year
Denomination
Signature
Colophon
Scribal Notes
Watermark
Hallmark
Group
Group
Group
Group
Group
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance
Main Surveys & Excavations
Sources

Lilientalowa, Regina. Dziecko żydowskie. Kraków: Polska Akademia Umiejȩtności, 1927. P. 46

Type
Documenter
|
Author of description
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Architectural Drawings
|
Computer Reconstruction
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Section Head
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Language Editor
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Donor
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Negative/Photo. No.
The following information on this monument will be completed:
Unknown |