Obj. ID: 54175
  Sacred and Ritual  Kame'a ve-Shmirah, Jerusalem, 1893

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

This specific form of amulet was first published by Israel Dov Frumkin soon after the establishment of his printing press in Jerusalem in 1874. It was published in three different versions then as well as on different colored paper.  Subsequently, it appeared in many different printings, some by Frunkin himself but afterward by many different presses in other variations even today. Many of these publications are represented in the Gross Family collection. Frumkin was an important printer of books and single sheets for almost 30 years. Such a single sheet was printed to be hung on the wall of a home and represents the kind of printed single pages that made their frequent appearance in the marketplace during the last half of the 19th century. This is the type of decorative page that provided the average Jewish person with the ability to have "art" on the walls of his home. Franklin was the son-in-law of the first printer in Jerusalem, Yisrael Bak, and worked in Bak's printing establishment from 1870 until he acquired his own press four years later. He was also the printer and editor of the Hebrew newspaper "Havatzelet".

This amulet was intended, as described in the large letters at the top, as a talisman and Shmirah against fire, as a protection for a pregnant woman, and as a general shield against all bad things. It contains many Kabbalistic formulae and "names" as well as a number of visual elements, including the depiction of an angel at the center that became the defining image of a great many amulets printed in Jerusalem. The image originated in Eastern Europe but was copied in the Holy Land and became exceedingly popular as an amuletic device on publications in Jerusalem. The amount of text is much greater than what is normally seen and deals with names of angels and other Kabbalistic lore for protection of the house and its inhabitants.

One of the first items to be issued from the press of Frumkin after its establishment in 1874.  The size is astonishing, as is the even larger version with decorated margins, Gross Family Collection 027.011.024. Frumkin continued printing in Jerusalem for more than thirty years, after having worked in Bak's printing house since 1870. He was Bak's son-in-law.He was also the editor and printer for the newspaper "Havatzelet". This huge printed amulet with decorative borders was probably the largest paper broadside ever printed in jerusalem at the time of its appearance. It was later reprinted in 1914 in a slightly different version by a different printer.  many other variations have been printed since then and continue to be produced today as well. At the top of the amulet, it is stated that this talisman is effective against fire, for the protection of a pregnant woman and guards against all bad things. The printer, israel frumkin, was an important printer in jerusalem for almost 30 years. This amulet is apparently among the first five items that he printed, his press having been established only in 1874. This type of print was made to be hung on the wall of a home and represents the kind of printed pieces that began to make frequent appearences on the market through the last half of the 19th century, providing the average jewish person with the ability to have "art" on the walls of his home. The printer, Israel Dov Frumkin, continued printing in Jerusalem for more than thirty years, after having worked in Bak's printing house since 1870. He was Bak's son-in-law. He was also the editor and printer for the newspaper "Havatzelet".

This example is another general copy of the others as above but is more personalized.