Obj. ID: 41926
Sacred and Ritual Objects Amulet, Morocco, circa 1900
The following description was prepared by William Gross:
From earliest times, man has tried to protect himself from misfortune by the use of objects which he considered holy or otherwise (e.g., magically) potent. Amulets and talismans are Items generally worn around the neck or wrist, carried in a pocket or purse or hung on a wall. They are meant to protect or aid those who carried or wore them. The Hebrew word for amulet, kame‘a, has the root meaning "to bind". Jewish amulets are usually comprised of texts (either letters or graphic symbols) that are inscribed on some sort of material; some may also contain plant matter or precious stones. The texts of amulets usually include holy names that are believed to have the ability to affect reality, along with incantations summoning angels or other magical powers. For the most part, an amulet has a specific purpose: to ease childbirth, facilitate recovery from illness, improve one’s livelihood, and so on, but in the modern world many are also made for general protection.
This page is an unusual colored, hand written and decorated amulet from Morocco. The hand in Jewish tradition is represented in its three varities on this one document: the regular Hamsah form, in the form of the hands of the Cohanim and in the form of the wisdom of the hand where the fingers are filled with text. The Menorah is depicted as well as are Kabbalistic magic squares filled with Hebrew abbreviations. The amulet is made against the evil eye (Ayin ha-Ra') and contains many Hebrew texts to that end to portect the male person for whom it was made. It is one of few amulets in the Gross Family Collection that are paiinted in color.
Made For: Yosef bar Bruriah